Summary

The Federal Office of Transport (BAV) confirms that Switzerland's regional bus and train services maintained high quality standards in 2025. Over 95 percent of regional trains and 90 percent of buses were punctual (maximum three minutes delay). Punctuality increased across all categories compared to 2024. Cleanliness at stops has improved significantly over the past three years, while vehicle information declined slightly in 2025.

People

Topics

  • Swiss regional transport
  • Transport quality
  • Punctuality and cleanliness
  • RPV quality measurement system

Clarus Lead

Continuous improvements in Swiss regional transport demonstrate that the RPV quality measurement system introduced in 2016 fulfills its steering function. This provides cantons and the federal government with reliable data foundations to compel transport companies to make targeted improvements – a mechanism that is gaining importance in federal transport policy.

Detailed Summary

The BAV quality measurement system RPV enables the federal government and cantons to systematically assess the quality of regionally commissioned and co-financed services. The system uses test customers to gather objective evaluations. The results form the basis for potential improvement measures vis-à-vis transport companies.

In the 2025 reporting year, differentiated trends emerge: while punctuality increased across all categories, vehicle information recorded a slight decline. Cleanliness remains the weakest evaluation criterion, but has improved continuously and significantly over the three-year period – particularly at stops, where users frequently have direct contact with infrastructure.

Key Findings

  • Regional transport meets high punctuality targets (95% trains, 90% buses)
  • Cleanliness shows long-term improvement trend despite continued critical assessment
  • RPV quality measurement system provides federal government and cantons with a steering instrument for performance optimization

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: What is the sample size of test customers, and does it cover all regions and times of day?

  2. Data Quality: How is it ensured that the definition of punctuality (maximum 3 minutes delay) corresponds with user expectations?

  3. Conflicts of Interest: Do transport companies have insight into the evaluation criteria and can they influence them?

  4. Causality: Can the increase in punctuality be causally attributed to the measurement system or to other factors (infrastructure investments, staffing)?

  5. Implementation: What concrete sanctions or incentives follow from poor ratings, and how often are they applied?

  6. Side Effects: Is there a risk that transport companies focus on easily measurable criteria (punctuality) and neglect other quality aspects?

Sources

Primary Source: Federal Office of Transport (BAV): Quality Report 2025 Regional Transport – www.bav.admin.ch/de/qualitaetsmesssystem-rpv

Verification Status: ✓ 21.05.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 21.05.2026