Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has announced plans to construct a new service facility in Rorschach to maintain 107 new Thurbo trains. The project, estimated at CHF 75 million (EUR 79 million), will replace the existing facility in Oberwinterthur and create over 80 new jobs.
In 2022, SBB, Thurbo, and RegionAlps jointly ordered 286 single-deck Flirt Evo multiple units for regional transport. Of these, 107 will be used by Thurbo, with phased deliveries set between 2026 and 2034 to replace the current fleet. Until the Rorschach facility is operational, the first Flirt Evo trains will be maintained in Weinfelden.
SBB has been responsible for maintaining Thurbo’s fleet, a partnership that allows Thurbo to benefit from SBB’s expertise while focusing on delivering cost-effective regional transport for eastern Switzerland. Currently, most maintenance work is carried out at the Oberwinterthur site, which lacks tracks long enough to accommodate the new, longer trains.
To address this, SBB and Thurbo plan to build a modern maintenance facility in Rorschach, situated in the municipalities of Rorschach and Rorschacherberg.
The new facility will be located on the site of the former locomotive depot, with construction set to begin later this decade, following approval from the Federal Office of Transport. The maintenance hall is expected to be operational by the late 2020s or early 2030s.
Key features of the new service facility include:
- Three 150-metre-long tracks to accommodate the new 75-metre-long trains.
- Dedicated areas for repairs and component replacements, such as air conditioning units and pantographs.
- Six maintenance stands, some equipped with roof work platforms, track pits, crane systems, and side work platforms, allowing for efficient servicing above and below the trains.
SBB is exploring sustainable construction options, including the use of timber structures, photovoltaic systems, and ecological compensation areas. The existing external cleaning system will remain in use.
The new service facility is expected to generate over 80 jobs in various sectors, including technology, cleaning, logistics, work preparation, and administration. SBB is collaborating with local authorities and the canton of St. Gallen to ensure environmental and operational requirements are met.
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