BLS profitable for first time since COVID19
Switzerland’s public transportation sector witnessed notable developments in 2023, particularly for the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon (BLS) transport company. The company reports an eleven per cent increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year, marking its return to profitability for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, in 2019.
“Never have more people travelled with BLS than in 2023” stated the company in a press release. Last year, BLS recorded a record-breaking 70.2 million passengers using its trains, buses, and ships, surpassing figures from both 2022 and 2019. Additionally, the transportation of vehicles via car trains saw an uptick, with 1.36 million vehicles transported, reflecting a 3.9 per cent increase.
The company attributes its success to various factors, including sustained demand and operational efficiency across its services. This success translated into a corporate profit of 20.2 million Swiss francs (20.8 million euros) for the year 2023. Furthermore, BLS maintained a commendable punctuality rate for its trains, with 95.6 per cent of services running on time, marking a steady increase for the fourth consecutive year.
The positive outcomes for BLS in 2023 are acknowledged to be the result of the collective efforts of its workforce comprising of 3,847 employees.
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