The Zentralbahn company

At the beginning of 2005, the SBB Brünig Railway and the Lucerne–Stans–Engelberg Railway merged to form zb Zentralbahn AG. Since its foundation, the railway company has developed quickly and dynamically. It carries an average of 10 million passengers per year, with revenues from passenger services currently amounting to some CHF 40 million per year.  

Zentralbahn is an independent subsidiary with the following shareholders:

  • SBB, 66%
  • Confederation, 16,1%
  • Canton of Nidwalden, 11,8%
  • Canton of Obwalden, 5%
  • Commune Engelberg, 1%
  • Other, 0,1%

Facts and figures

History in brief

  • Brünig Railway commences operations in 1888
  • Stansstad–Engelberg Railway (StEB) commences operations in 1898
  • StEB becomes the Lucerne–Stans–Engelberg Railway (LSE) in 1964
  • Foundation of zb Zentralbahn AG in 2005
  • Acquisition of the Meiringen–Innertkirchen Railway in 2021

Route network

  • Luzern–Engelberg
  • Luzern–Interlaken Ost
  • Meiringen–Innertkirchen

Technical facts

  • Route length: 102,7 km
  • Double-track route length: 9.2km
  • Rack route length: 13km
  • Highest point: 1,002m above sea level, Brünig-Hasliberg
  • Lowest point: 435m above sea level, Alpnachstad
  • Stations and stops (including Allmend stop): 38
  • Maximum gradient: 128 per mille, Meiringen–Brünig
  • Bridges (>2m): 197
  • Longest bridge: 210m, Horw pier
  • Highest bridge: 15m Aare bridge
  • Tunnels: 19 (total length 13km)
  • Longest tunnel: 4,039m, Grafenort–Engelberg
  • Track length: 127km
  • Level crossings: 105
  • Points: 205
  • Signal boxes: 16
  • Number of train and dwarf signals: 496
  • Number of switching posts: 123
  • Length of overhead lines: 125km
  • Length of platform edges: 11km

You can find more up-to-date information about the company here

Annual reports
Strategy
History
Work at Zentralbahn