Press releases

PostBus carries more and more passengers

PostBus Switzerland Ltd has achieved another passenger record: During 2013, some 139 million people used the services of the largest bus operator in the country. This represents an increase of 4.7%. The number of kilometres PostBus covered increased by 1.1 percent.

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Last year PostBus Switzerland Ltd transported 139 million passengers (+ 4.7 percent). The highest growth in the number of passengers was recorded in the regions of Berne (+ 7.9 percent), Central Switzerland (+ 7.6 percent) and Eastern Switzerland (+ 6 percent). Northern Switzerland remains the largest of the nine regions with over 30 million passengers transported (see enclosed table). In Switzerland as a whole, the number of routes has increased by 5 to 848. Last year the 2,219 PostBus buses again travelled more kilometres for scheduled services than before, i.e. 108 million km (+ 1.1 percent).

Growth in local transport

Local transport is an important pillar of business for PostBus. In 2013 PostBus won the tenders for three local networks. These were: Avenches (Canton of Vaud), Oensingen (Canton of Solothurn) and Flawil (Canton of St. Gallen). This brings the current number of locally-operated buses to 26. Most of these networks have been integrated into the Swiss tariff system since the timetable change on 15 December 2013. This means that passengers can buy tickets at a local bus for all the routes of Switzerland.

71 new jobs

PostBus created 71 new full-time jobs in Switzerland during 2013, thus bringing its average headcount to 3,557 (+ 2.5 percent). More than half of all employees are employed by PostBus Switzerland Ltd, while the rest work for one of 170 PostBus companies (PU). PostBus companies provide services as subcontractors, but operate under the PostBus corporate image. In the 48 so-called municipal operations, though, PostBus Switzerland Ltd runs its own buses with its own employees.

PostBus is committed to the NAF

The public road transport system operates a route network roughly three times longer than the railway network. It is essential for PostBus that the continued development and maintenance of the road infrastructure is guaranteed. PostBus is therefore firmly committed to the National Road and Agglomeration Traffic Fund (NAF). NAF serves to develop the national road network, remove bottlenecks, and implement projects in agglomerations. The Swiss Federal Council legislative process by consultation is currently under way; the voting date has not yet been decided.

Key performance figures in the nine PostBus regions

Passengers transported (million)

Region  2013  2012 Difference

Berne (BE/FR/SO)

17,8

16,5

+ 7,9 %

Graubünden

10,1

9,7

+ 4,1 %

Northern Switzerland (BL/BS/AG/SO)

30,2

28,9

+ 4,5 %

Eastern Switzerland (SG/TG/GL/AI/AR/SZ)

21,2

20

+ 6,0 %

Ticino[1]

8

8

-

Valais[2]

13

12,8

+1,9 %

Western Switzerland (VD/NE/JU/FR)

10,2

9,7

+ 5,3 %

Central Switzerland (LU/OW/NW/UR) 8,5 7,9 + 7,6 %
Zurich (ZH/SH/ZG) 19,9 19,2 + 3,6 %
Total[3] 138,9 132,7 + 4,7 %

Kilometres covered (million)

Region  2013 2012  Difference 
Berne (BE/FR/SO)  12  12 -
Graubünden            12,6            12,3            + 2,4 % 
Northern Switzerland (BL/BS/AG/SO)  19,6            19,2  + 2,1 %
Eastern Switzerland (SG/TG/GL/AI/AR/SZ) 15,6            15,6            -
Ticino[1] 8 7,8            + 2,6 % 
Valais[2]  10,3            10,5           - 1,9 %
Western Switzerland (VD/NE/JU/FR) 12,7            12,5            + 1,6 % 
Central Switzerland (LU/OW/NW/UR) 6,6            6,5           + 1,5 % 
Zurich (ZH/SH/ZG) 10,2            10           + 2,0 % 
Total[3] 107,6            106,4            + 1,1 %

Routes

Region 2013  2012 
Berne (BE/FR/SO) 88  95
Graubünden 99  92
Northern Switzerland (BL/BS/AG/SO)            119 112 
Eastern Switzerland (SG/TG/GL/AI/AR/SZ) 112  112 
Ticino[1] 71 70
Valais[2] 105 105 
Western Switzerland (VD/NE/JU/FR) 117 125 
Central Switzerland (LU/OW/NW/UR)  58 55
Zurich (ZH/SH/ZG) 79  77
Total[3] 848 843 

1  The 2012 key figures for the Ticino region have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the change to system-based surveys.

2  The 2012 key figures for the Valais region have been adjusted retroactively. The changes have been made to reflect the fact that all new routes benefit from Cantonal and Federal concessions. All routes for school and local buses are now included. This also affects the figures on net length, number of stops, number of passengers and kilometres covered.

3  The total number of kilometres covered includes the school bus service.

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