ETH Alumni OG Basel: SBB Operations Center Mitte, hour stone "zero" and crispy chicken at the "Chöbu" in Olten
The SBB Central Operations Center controls train traffic between Basel, Bern, Brugg, Solothurn and Lucerne. This region is divided into operational subregions. The railway police are also housed in the well-secured building near Olten train station. In addition to the interesting presentations, we were also able to see the dispatchers' workstations from the separate visitors' lounge.
This article has been translated with AI.
On February 13, 2025, shortly before noon, resilient ETH alumni from Basel, Solothurn, Zurich and even Chur set off in the nastiest February weather to visit one of the four SBB operations centers and gain insights in Olten into how the fine-tuned timetable can be kept stable in the event of minor or major disruptions. First, however, we had to warm our clammy fingers with a coffee or lemon ginger tea at "Chez SBB" in Olten station and gather ourselves together (the over 100-year-old historic Olten station buffet was unfortunately closed).
At 2 p.m. sharp, we were warmly welcomed at the BZ Mitte and ushered into a visitors' room. After the welcome, we were introduced to the complex Swiss railroad network and its management by four operations centers and their organization. BZ Mitte Olten, for example, coordinates and monitors the Basel-Olten-Lucerne axis until a few sleepers after Immensee station (SZ). From there, BZ Pollegio takes over and ensures the safe transportation of passengers and freight through the Gotthard Base Tunnel or over the mountain route. Important for "us Baslers": the Pratteln freight and shunting yard, the largest freight yard in Switzerland and of course closely linked to the Rhine ports, is also controlled from Olten.
After a good overview, we were divided into two groups and allowed to visit various workplaces in the building and take a look from the visitors' box into the control room – the heart of every control center, so to speak. There wasn't much difference to the control room at Skyguide in Dübendorf; it's just that trains shouldn't move in the third dimension, otherwise things get hectic. However, the primacy of safety applies on the ground and on the rails just as much as in the air.
Dispatchers plan train compositions and their routes several hours to days in advance, while traffic managers monitor and coordinate the traffic currently running on the rails and – if necessary – intervene to ensure network stability. Disruption reports on platforms or cell phones also come directly from the respective control center.
After an intensive round of questions, we thanked and said goodbye to the two extremely competent SBB guides and set off on the short journey to the "zero" hour marker at Olten station in clear clouds but bitterly cold weather. There, our historically experienced member Guido Nigg, civil engineer and lawyer, gave us a historical outline of the origins of the Swiss railroad network in Olten and the proverbial groundbreaking achievements of Niklaus Riggenbach (see our report on 150 years of the Rigi Railway from Sept. 2021).
Afterwards, Mr. Fischer, former city archivist of Olten, took over for a stroll through the city in the freshest winter air. From the station, we crossed the covered wooden bridge into Olten's old town, where we were greeted by Toulouse, the King of Olten. After interesting explanations about the history of Olten's development, we continued on to the "Chöbu", where some deliberately false historical references were uncovered in the seemingly old façade painting. Finally, with clammy fingers again, we stormed the "Chöbu", where delicious chicken was already hot in the Chörbli and some sticks were tapped. A beautiful and atmospheric restaurant – like a pub in London – where many young people obviously like to meet in the evening.
Many thanks to Matthis Schütz, who lives in Olten, who, thanks to his attentiveness and inquiries, prevented any major misunderstandings in advance and led us to a really great restaurant!
