Last year, PostBus carried 114.7 million passengers, 3.6 million more than in 2007 (+3.2%). At the same time, the leading bus company in the public transport sector increased the number of kilometres travelled by 6.5% from around 89 to over 94 million km. PostBus generated a record operating income: it went up by CHF 19 million to CHF 604 million.

PostBus continued its long-term growth trend in 2008. The Group unit of Swiss Post generated a record turnover of CHF 604 million in Switzerland, France and the Principality of Liechtenstein. The increase from 2007 to 2008 amounts to CHF 19 million (+3.3%). The operating result of PostBus, including the international companies in France and the Principality of Liechtenstein, came to CHF 27 million (2007: CHF 32 million). The decline is due in particular to the sharp rise in fuel prices in 2008 and the inflation-related additional expenses for staff and materials.

Higher demand

The higher demand in particular resulted in an increase in transport revenue in Switzerland of 8.5% to CHF 163.5 million. This, together with the expanded offering, generated the renewed sales growth. The additional revenue resulting from higher demand and cost-cutting measures was unable to compensate for the increase in expenditure.

3,000 jobs at PostBus

In addition to increasing the kilometres travelled and the number of passengers carried from over 300,000 to 315,000 per day, PostBus also raised the number of passenger kilometres, number of routes and network length by 3-5% each. The average headcount in 2008 was slightly higher than in 2007. PostBus employed 1,617 people, and the headcount of the 200 or so PostBus companies came to 1,365. A total of 2,982 people (+0.4%) worked for PostBus and the PostBus companies in Switzerland, corresponding to approximately 2,660 full-time positions (+1.7%).

Average age of vehicles 7.5 years

The average age of the PostBus fleet is 7.5 years. With 2,014 vehicles (+5.5%), PostBus has a network in Switzerland covering 10,345 km with 761 PostBus routes. All Postbuses together have a capacity for around 147,000 seated or standing passengers. Since 2008, newly purchased Postbuses have a device that shows the drivers the current fuel consumption. 450 vehicles are being fitted with these devices. Pilot tests have shown that it is possible to save up to 5% in diesel fuel, depending on the area in which the buses are used.

Research on innovative mobility

Swiss Post and PostBus have launched a research project to optimize mobility in cooperation with the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), represented by Professor Vincent Kaufmann, Director of the Laboratory of Urban Sociology. This will show the market potential for combined mobility. Among other things it will look at the factors that influence travellers in their choice of transport. At a later stage, target group-specific new transport offerings and services will be developed and tested, which will have a lasting influence on this choice. The EPFL Transportation Center, under Professor Michel Bierlaire, is conducting the work in cooperation with Professor Kaufmann. It will probably take three years.

Key figures for PostBus in Switzerland

Performance data	Unit	2008	2007	Deviation in percent
Passengers	m	114.7	111.1	+3.2
Annual performance	millions of km	94.6	88.8	+6.5
Passenger km	millions of km	738.8	705.4	+4.7
Routes	Number	761	738	+3.1
Network length	Km	10,345	9,827	+5.3
Stops	Number	12,395	12,339	+0.5

Headcount	Unit	2008	2007	Deviation in percent
PostBus Switzerland Ltd	FTEs	1,332.6	1,305.5	+2.1
Drivers PostBus operators	FTEs	1,326.1	1,308.0	+1.4
Total	FTEs	2,658.7	2,613.5	+1.7

Headcount	Unit	2008	2007	Deviation in percent
PostBus Switzerland Ltd	Persons	1,617	1,627	-0.6
DriversPostBus operators	Persons	1,365	1,344	+1.6
Total	Persons	2,982	2,971	+0.4