"Railway Systems in Transition: Resilience, Digitalisation and Workforce Change"
Abstract
Switzerland is among the world’s most successful railway nations: exceptionally high demand, outstanding punctuality and sustainable operations on a fully electrified network characterise the system. Its performance is built on close coordination between the infrastructure manager and the railway undertakings, who together transport more than one million passengers safely and reliably every day. At the same time, the railway system faces a series of profound and increasingly interconnected challenges.
The maintenance needs of an ageing infrastructure are rising sharply, while financial resources are constrained, forcing strict prioritisation. Demand for sustainable mobility continues to grow, requiring additional capacity and further network development. The incident in the Gotthard Base Tunnel has vividly demonstrated how critical the resilience of key transport infrastructure has become for both the economy and society. This demanding environment is further intensified by a widespread shortage of skilled labour, affecting almost all professional groups and slowing down the system’s transformation.
To address these mounting challenges, clear strategic directions are required. Network expansion should take place where demand is highest and where it creates the greatest system-wide benefit. At the same time, the principle of “preservation before expansion” must guide investment decisions. The existing network also needs to be utilised far more effectively, supported by digitalisation, optimised network design and modern technologies. Another priority is the development of a flexible, customer-oriented service offering that can respond more dynamically to shifts in demand and make best use of available capacity. The transformation likewise requires more efficient construction practices, larger project clusters and optimal use of available resources help reduce operational restrictions and enable projects to be delivered more quickly and cost-effectively. Yet the decisive success factor remains the human element. The railway of the future will depend on staff equipped with advanced technical and digital skills, a renewed understanding of their roles, and the ability to continuously develop new competencies. Targeted training and development of future professionals is therefore a strategic necessity and the motivation behind my role as Professor of Practice at EPFL. The railway system is a cornerstone of the Swiss economy, yet the Universities currently offer no course that treats the railway as a fully integrated system.
This is precisely the purpose of the lecture Railway Systems and Their Transition: it addresses the future challenges of rail from technical, economic and systemic perspectives, providing knowledge that is rarely covered in traditional disciplines. Students learn how infrastructure, operations, rolling stock, energy systems, digitalisation, workforce dynamics and financing interlink to form one highly complex whole. The aim is to equip the next generation of specialists to understand railways holistically, think across disciplines and competently address challenges at system interfaces.
The lecture concludes with a forward-looking reflection on how we can collectively shape the Swiss railway system to be resilient, efficient and prepared for the future, ensuring that it continues to play a central role in sustainable mobility and in the country’s economic performance.
Short bio
Peter Kummer has been Professor of Practice in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) since September 2025. Until May 2025, he served as Head of Infrastructure and member of the Executive Board at Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). In this role, he was responsible for ensuring the optimal use of network capacity for passenger and freight services through train path management and the efficient operation, maintenance, and development of the railway infrastructure. SBB Infrastructure also oversees the expansion of both the rail network and the company’s electricity supply system.
He joined SBB in 2007 as Chief IT Architect and became CIO and member of the Executive Board in 2009. As CIO, he led the company’s entire IT division and played a key role in driving SBB’s digital transformation. Before joining SBB, he headed Enterprise Architecture and IT Strategy at "Die Mobiliar", and previously worked as an IT architect, project leader and consultant in various companies.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration and information systems from the University of Bern. Peter Kummer lives near Biel with his wife and their four daughters.
Switzerland is among the world’s most successful railway nations: exceptionally high demand, outstanding punctuality and sustainable operations on a fully electrified network characterise the system. Its performance is built on close coordination between the infrastructure manager and the railway undertakings, who together transport more than one million passengers safely and reliably every day. At the same time, the railway system faces a series of profound and increasingly interconnected challenges.
The maintenance needs of an ageing infrastructure are rising sharply, while financial resources are constrained, forcing strict prioritisation. Demand for sustainable mobility continues to grow, requiring additional capacity and further network development. The incident in the Gotthard Base Tunnel has vividly demonstrated how critical the resilience of key transport infrastructure has become for both the economy and society. This demanding environment is further intensified by a widespread shortage of skilled labour, affecting almost all professional groups and slowing down the system’s transformation.
To address these mounting challenges, clear strategic directions are required. Network expansion should take place where demand is highest and where it creates the greatest system-wide benefit. At the same time, the principle of “preservation before expansion” must guide investment decisions. The existing network also needs to be utilised far more effectively, supported by digitalisation, optimised network design and modern technologies. Another priority is the development of a flexible, customer-oriented service offering that can respond more dynamically to shifts in demand and make best use of available capacity. The transformation likewise requires more efficient construction practices, larger project clusters and optimal use of available resources help reduce operational restrictions and enable projects to be delivered more quickly and cost-effectively. Yet the decisive success factor remains the human element. The railway of the future will depend on staff equipped with advanced technical and digital skills, a renewed understanding of their roles, and the ability to continuously develop new competencies. Targeted training and development of future professionals is therefore a strategic necessity and the motivation behind my role as Professor of Practice at EPFL. The railway system is a cornerstone of the Swiss economy, yet the Universities currently offer no course that treats the railway as a fully integrated system.
This is precisely the purpose of the lecture Railway Systems and Their Transition: it addresses the future challenges of rail from technical, economic and systemic perspectives, providing knowledge that is rarely covered in traditional disciplines. Students learn how infrastructure, operations, rolling stock, energy systems, digitalisation, workforce dynamics and financing interlink to form one highly complex whole. The aim is to equip the next generation of specialists to understand railways holistically, think across disciplines and competently address challenges at system interfaces.
The lecture concludes with a forward-looking reflection on how we can collectively shape the Swiss railway system to be resilient, efficient and prepared for the future, ensuring that it continues to play a central role in sustainable mobility and in the country’s economic performance.
Short bio
Peter Kummer has been Professor of Practice in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) since September 2025. Until May 2025, he served as Head of Infrastructure and member of the Executive Board at Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). In this role, he was responsible for ensuring the optimal use of network capacity for passenger and freight services through train path management and the efficient operation, maintenance, and development of the railway infrastructure. SBB Infrastructure also oversees the expansion of both the rail network and the company’s electricity supply system.
He joined SBB in 2007 as Chief IT Architect and became CIO and member of the Executive Board in 2009. As CIO, he led the company’s entire IT division and played a key role in driving SBB’s digital transformation. Before joining SBB, he headed Enterprise Architecture and IT Strategy at "Die Mobiliar", and previously worked as an IT architect, project leader and consultant in various companies.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration and information systems from the University of Bern. Peter Kummer lives near Biel with his wife and their four daughters.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
- Prof. Dimitrios Lignos
Contact
- Prof. Dimitrios Lignos