When you think back to your involvement in the Poland vs. Denmark game, what word comes to mind first?

People! Lots and lots of people.

Why?  

The game was sold out and lots of fans wanted to take our trains from Lucerne to the stadium. Numerous additional trains were in service, departing from tracks 13 and 15. The S4 and S5 ran as normal from platform 14. We were constantly running back and forth between the platforms, filling a train every seven minutes. As the trains were already full a few minutes before departure, we directed the fans to the platform with the next train.

Were there any negative reactions?  

No, because the fans saw that the trains were full and that the next train was leaving just seven minutes later.    

What was your job that day?  

I was working at Lucerne station and making sure that people found our trains to Allmend. Track 15 is a bit hidden, as we all know. But the fans in their soccer shirts were easy to spot, which made my job easier. 

How much customer guidance was ultimately necessary?

Quite a lot. We tried to distribute the fans as evenly as possible across the trains. We managed to do this by filling the trains from the front. So we sent the first fans right to the front of the trains and directed the last ones to the rear carriages.

Would the fans do it differently?

Yes. Guests who are unfamiliar with the area in particular want to board the train directly, i.e., the first car they see at the end of the platform. That's because they're just happy to have found the right Train.

Is there anything in particular that stands out in your memory?

One fan greeted me in a sporty, cool way and said, “You can see that you enjoy your job, I think that's great!” Some fans gave me a high five.

How did you find the day overall?

Pleasant. People were very relaxed and cheerful, there was a peaceful, joyful atmosphere. We also had lots of families on the trains.

Are you interested in women's soccer or the WEURO yourself?

I watched the Swiss national team's games and think it's great that women's soccer is getting so much attention thanks to the European Championship. I also liked how fairly the women play.

You are a career changer at Zentralbahn. How did that come about?

I am a big believer in public transport, I am involved in politics with the Green Party, and I wanted to be able to stand behind what I do professionally more strongly. I had actually wanted to switch to this industry for a long time, but I thought that the working hours would be difficult to reconcile with family life, or that I wouldn't be able to make it to the early shift without a car. I was wrong—it is possible! For example, I can easily reach Lucerne station, where I start my shift, by bike. 

What do you particularly like about your current job?

The customer contact. I like interacting with people and being able to help. The job is also very varied. In addition to customer guidance, I also carry out frequency surveys and spot checks. 

If someone is thinking about switching careers to work for the railway as a train attendant or customer guide, what does it take?

The basic requirements are social skills and communication skills. If you approach passengers openly, remain friendly, and explain things, you make them happy and can smooth things over. In long-distance transport, there are also technical aspects to consider—but the most important thing in our job, in my opinion, is that you have to like people.