The fascination of technology

Another old broken radio. Bethel Kibrom is delighted. She unscrews it and studies its inner workings. She can make good use of the magnets and wires. “Technology fascinated me even as a child,” recalls Bethel Kibrom. “My parents gave me broken technical devices and I used them to build lamps.” That was a long time ago and far away. Bethel Kibrom grew up in Eritrea, an authoritarian country in northeast Africa.

Challenges in her new home

She came to Switzerland at the age of 13 because her family wanted to build a new life here. Her younger siblings had less difficulty with German. For Bethel Kibrom, the new language was a big challenge. “When I wanted to start an apprenticeship as an electrician at the age of 17, I was told: ‘Come back in two years when your German is better.’” So she looked for a Plan B that would allow her to turn her enthusiasm for technology into a career.

Her path to Zentralbahn

Through her education partner “login,” she found an apprenticeship as an automation engineer at BLS. After two years of basic training, she was able to choose how to proceed. Since she lives in Brienz, working in maintenance at Zentralbahn in Meiringen was an obvious choice – in every respect. “I was given the opportunity to try out Zentralbahn and immediately realized that it was a great company. I was made to feel very welcome and found the working atmosphere very pleasant. What's more, Meiringen is very close to where I live,” says Bethel Kibrom, explaining her reasons for the change.

Valuable support

Summer 2023. Bethel Kibrom is starting the second part of her training as an automation engineer at Zentralbahn. At the maintenance facility in Meiringen, the trains are thoroughly inspected at precisely defined intervals. Today it's a FINK's turn. Bethel Kibrom spends most of her time on the roof of the train, working her way through her checklist: she checks the grounding and compressor, compressed air tanks, and nitrogen cylinders. She blows out the channels with compressed air and checks the sliding contact on the pantograph.

“At first, I wrote everything down in my little black notebook. After three months, I had everything in my head,” says the cheerful young woman, who greatly appreciated the support she received from Zentralbahn during her training. "Everything was explained to me and everyone was very helpful when I had questions. Apprentices are taken seriously and encouraged here. Every Friday, I also received additional support with school subjects.“ Something else that was and still is very important to Bethel Kibrom: ”All employees at Zentralbahn are very open, and everyone is treated equally. I don't sense any racism."

Continuing education

After completing her apprenticeship, Bethel Kibrom hopes to find a permanent position as an automation engineer at Zentralbahn. She now speaks very good standard German and is highly motivated to tackle her professional future. The 21-year-old, who has a keen interest in technology, is delighted that an additional hall for the overhaul of multiple units is being built in Meiringen. “During maintenance, you learn to understand the technology much better. You dismantle the vehicle equipment, replace parts, and carry out commissioning.”

She is also fascinated by the movement of trains. That's why she wants to take the shunting exam soon. She also has her sights set on a vocational baccalaureate – as a springboard for further education at a technical college. The question “How does that work?” has been with her since childhood and continues to drive her forward.

An ideal place for training

At Zentralbahn, young people receive thorough training while bringing fresh perspectives to the company. Philipp Meyer, Head of Operations Maintenance, talks about the importance of promoting young talent and the appeal of Zentralbahn as a training company.

Philipp Meyer, how do you find the younger generation in training?

Our trainees are tech-savvy, versatile, and self-confident. They bring new ideas to the table and value a good work-life balance. At the same time, they want to be appreciated and receive individual support. With the right support, they integrate excellently into everyday working life. We see challenges primarily in perseverance and frustration tolerance.

Why is promoting young talent so important to Zentralbahn?

Training young people secures our long-term need for skilled workers and reduces the shortage of qualified labor. In addition, young talent enriches our company with new ideas, technical expertise, and modern ways of thinking. At the same time, as a training company, we are fulfilling our social responsibility and offering young people career prospects. Last but not least, targeted promotion of young talent strengthens our image as an attractive employer.

What makes Zentralbahn particularly attractive to young people?

We offer practical training with modern teaching methods and personal support. Our apprentices work in well-equipped workshops with the latest technology and benefit from strong team spirit. In addition, public transport is an industry that offers stability and opportunities for development. Regular working hours, fair pay, and an appreciative corporate culture make the training particularly attractive.

All these advantages make Zentralbahn an ideal training location for young people who are looking for an exciting and future-proof career in public transport.

Paper edition of the magazine “hin und weg” – also available as a subscription.

This is an article from the magazine “hin und weg”. You can find the printed version at the train stations in Engelberg, Sarnen, Stans and Meiringen, in all Travel Centres, as well as on trains. We will also be happy to send the magazine to your home address. Send an e-mail to hello@zentralbahn.ch with the subject “Subscribe to hin und weg magazine” and include your postal address in the body text of the message.

Pictures: Urs Stettler