Portrait.
On track with diversity.
Around 500 people keep Zentralbahn moving. They bring different skills and diverse expertise to the company and work together to ensure smooth operations, exciting offers and memorable moments for our passengers.
Around 500 people keep Zentralbahn moving. They bring different skills and diverse expertise to the company and work together to ensure smooth operations, exciting offers and memorable moments for our passengers.
Board of Directors
They set out the strategies for the future:
- Toni Häne, Chair of the Board of Directors, Moosseedorf (Representative of SBB)
- Daniel Wyler, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, Engelberg (Representative of the Canton of Obwalden)
- Michèle Blöchliger, Hergiswil (Representative of the Canton of Nidwalden)
- Michel Berchtold, Thun (Representative of SBB)
- Peter Flück, Interlaken (Representative of the Swiss Confederation)
- Christophe Gardan, Steffisburg (Representative of SBB)
- Philippe Gauderon, Grolley (Representative of SBB)
Management Board
Every day, they work with all employees to further develop Zentralbahn:
- Gerhard Züger, Head of Production and Rolling Stock
- Stephan Simioni, Head of Infrastructure
- Sonja Theiler, Head of Human Resources
- Chantal Beck, Managing Director
- Nicolas Ludin, Head of Marketing and Sales
- Patrick Schaller, Head of Finance and IT
Units
Zentralbahn employees are organised into five units. Despite the division into different units, cooperation is extremely important. This is the only way to ensure the trains can run safely and punctually every day.
Management / Staff / Security and Corporate Development
Overall operational responsibility lies with the Management Board. It is responsible for achieving the company’s objectives, representing its interests internally and externally and reporting to the Board of Directors. The Staff unit supports the Management Board, prepares business transactions and works on company projects. The Safety and Corporate Development department is responsible for safety and quality management, the innovation process and business analysis.
Production and Rolling Stock
The largest unit at Zentralbahn is the Production and Rolling Stock organisational unit. Maintenance work is carried out in the modern workshops in Meiringen, Stansstad and Innertkirchen. The locomotive crew ensures safe and punctual operations. Production Planning and Fleet Management ensure the efficient use of vehicles. The Procurement and Logistics department manages materials and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure unit is responsible for the construction, management and maintenance of rail installations, train stations and real estate. Operations Management directs trains along the network and keeps customers informed at stations and stops.
Finance and IT
The Finance sub-unit is responsible for processing and monitoring income, expenditure and investments. Risk Management identifies and assesses risks and their potential impact. IT provides an efficient and user-friendly ICT infrastructure and is responsible for IT security.
Human Resources
Human Resources focuses on the needs and requirements of employees. Together with managers, this unit provides orientation, encourages appreciation and promotes entrepreneurial action. Values are central to this approach and form the basis for a good corporate culture.
Marketing and Sales
Marketing and Sales handle all customer needs. The staff in the Travel Centres and the train crew are the first points of contact for customers and important ambassadors for the customer focus. The service offer and timetable are planned in this unit and negotiated with the commissioning parties – the Cantons and the Swiss Confederation. Marketing of services and all internal and external communications are the responsibility of Marketing and Sales.
Interviews with the Management Board
What motivates me as the Managing Director?
“I am fascinated by public transport in all its dimensions and by the Zentralbahn as an integrated railway with a wide range of topics. The ‘the pearl among railways’ inspires as an innovative leisure railway that connects beautiful regions, people, nature and technology. It is a very rewarding task to be able to manage the fortunes of this company and help shape its future.”
What kind of work do I love?
“Whenever the contributions of different personalities come together to form a successful whole with a lot of energy and conviction.
I enjoy working strategically, representing a company with a strong identity and achieving great things with people.”
What’s important to me when interacting with others?
“Authentic interaction, trust, clarity and a pinch of pragmatism. It is important to me to encourage people to develop their strengths and work together towards a common goal.”
What do I value in my unit?
“Honesty, reliability, commitment, openness and respect. And as a company, a high level of customer focus, satisfied, motivated employees and excellence in day-to-day operations.”
A glimpse into my private life ...
“I find balance in the summer by riding my motorbike, biking or hiking with my family, and in the winter by skiing. Music is also important to me, and I enjoy getting together with friends over a nice meal and a good glass of wine.”
What motivates me as a member of the Management Board?
“Every day, I am motivated to take on responsibility in my varied role, to analyse and optimise complex business relationships. As part of the Zentralbahn family, I am able to further develop the organisation and services for our customers in order to strengthen public transport. The interaction between employees, customers and economic factors is both challenging and enriching.”
What kind of work do I love?
“Every day, it’s a pleasure for me to work with my team to succeed in putting a smile on our customers’ faces before, during and after their trip and to impress them with our services and products. Daily collaboration with committed employees who put their heart and soul into Zentralbahn makes it a wonderful job.”
What’s important to me when interacting with others?
“Personal interaction and open, respectful, direct dialogue. Other perspectives broaden our horizon.”
What do I value in my unit?
“Appreciative cooperation between all units and departments is important to me. We work together to achieve tangible results and create new, needs-based services that help Zentralbahn and our customers to move forward together. This strengthens customer satisfaction. A great team, open communication and our culture of feedback help us to carry out our daily work.”
A glimpse into my private life ...
“Quality ingredients from my kitchen and cellar are the perfect combination for a cosy evening and interesting conversations. What I find fascinating and inspiring about the art of cooking is that it is so culturally diverse.”
What motivates me as a member of the Management Board?
“Because I am convinced that mobility is more than just transportation – it connects people, places and perspectives. For me, helping to shape the future of Zentralbahn means taking responsibility together with the Management Board and working with our employees to create sustainable momentum for the region.”
What kind of work do I love?
“When I work with my dedicated employees and colleagues to develop solutions that advance Zentralbahn. Especially when we achieve a tangible impact for our customers and stakeholders.”
What’s important to me when interacting with others?
“Openness, reliability and respectful dialogue on an equal footing are important to me. I am convinced that genuine cooperation arises where trust and appreciation are lived out – and where people laugh together.”
What do I value in my unit?
“I attach great importance to long-term solutions that will still be valid tomorrow. Operational excellence and economic thinking are central principles for me – always with the aim of offering our customers a reliable and high-quality rail service.”
A glimpse into my private life ...
“In my free time, I love to head for the mountains with my family – on foot, by bike or on any kind of skis, as long as we're outdoors. Nature and spending time together give me new energy and often inspire me with good ideas.”
What motivates me as a member of the Management Board?
The combination of expertise from the world of finance with the challenges of public transport companies is very exciting. It’s a pleasure to meet motivated employees every day. It’s always inspiring to witness their commitment to the further development of public transport along such a fantastic train route.
What kind of work do I love?
Quickly recording and analysing economic correlations to find new, more effective solutions for Zentralbahn is what drives me.
What’s important to me when interacting with others?
I believe that an open and collegial culture is the basis for achieving goals together. We support each other and look forward to implementing improvements.
What do I value in my unit?
As a support unit, our goal is to provide a high-quality IT infrastructure and the basis for financial management. We focus on creating an economic overview and on the useful application of IT technology and data. We want to be part of the pearl among Switzerland’s railways and enjoy making our contribution.
A glimpse into my private life ...
I really enjoy family time at home or in nature. Moderate exercise in the mountains or on the lake balances out my rather sedentary office routine.
What motivates me as a member of the Management Board?
“Zentralbahn is important to me. That’s why I find it very fulfilling when I can contribute to the sustainable success of Zentralbahn with my mind, heart and hands and show employees what the future holds.”
What kind of work do I love?
“I love working for and with our employees. I’m particularly proud of the employees that I’m able to support from the moment they join the company and as they develop within the company. It makes me very happy to have played a part in their careers."
What’s important to me when interacting with others?
“Transparent, respectful and trust-based cooperation with a focus on the success of Zentralbahn and no lack of humour. It’s refreshing to be able to laugh in between dealing with difficult topics.”
What do I value in my unit?
“We offer our employees a family environment with modern working time models. We promote the knowledge and skills of our employees and develop their potential in a targeted manner. For me, a well-networked and forward-looking HR team forms the basis for this approach.”
A glimpse into my private life ...
“I like to get out and about on my bike to clear my head while in harmony with nature and enjoying the combination of sport, freedom and relaxation. This helps to keep my life happy and balanced.”
What motivates me as a member of the Management Board?
“As a small but high quality railway, Zentralbahn has to assert itself on the global stage. I am committed to the sustainable development of Zentralbahn with partnerships and innovative ideas. Among other things, Zentralbahn will explore new technological options.”
What kind of work do I love?
“Questioning existing processes and standards and creating and trying out new ideas together with the team.”
What’s important to me when interacting with others?
“I can only achieve success with a motivated team, which I can build through trust and appreciation. Employees should be able to provide constructive criticism, so that problems can be addressed and we can continue to develop together.”
What do I value in my unit?
“Safety, punctuality and efficiency are important to me and my team is committed to these values every day. Working together, we create high-quality, reliable connections for our customers. We focus on the continuous further development of our unit, for example, with the appropriate use of digital tools.”
A glimpse into my private life ...
“To balance out the world of trains, I relax in my workshop by restoring old English motorbikes (“Ladies”) and riding my Norton through remote Swiss countryside.”