History of transport in Switzerland
An overview of transport development in Switzerland: from shipping to railway construction to the dawn of aviation.
For many centuries, ships were the most important form of transporting goods and persons over long distances. Railways then replaced shipping in this function during the late 19th century. Railway construction represented a central factor in the development of today's modern industry and service-oriented society. Switzerland's tourism industry also has its beginnings in the 19th century. Many tourists rushed to the summits with native mountain guides. Numerous hotels and mountain railways were built as a consequence of this development. Finally, Switzerland's aviation industry launched its first flights at the start of the 20th century. The big breakthrough took place after the Second World War.
The following subpages provide a rough overview of the historic development of railways, aviation and shipping, as well as the tasks and activities of the Confederation in relation to developing and operating the transport network and other facilities of public transport in Switzerland.
Railway, PostBus and co. reshape Switzerland
From the middle of the 19th century onwards, Switzerland's transport system developed with ever-increasing speed. The railway reshaped landscapes, society and the economy; mountain railways, cable cars and the PostBus connected summits and valleys. The old stage coach, on the other hand, had served its uses.
When Switzerland took to the skies – and later landed with a bang
The history of aviation in Switzerland goes back more than 100 years and is characterised by the early aviation pioneers such as Eduard Spelterini and Oskar Bider, the founding of Swissair in 1931 and its “grounding” in 2001. Numerous fonds as well as film and audio material document the events in the air and on the ground.
Swiss shipping: in transit on rivers, lakes and oceans
Ships were once the most important form of transporting goods and persons over long distances. Railways replaced Swiss shipping in this function during the late 19th century. Transport by ship then became a tourist attraction on Switzerland's waters. And the Swiss merchant fleet sails the oceans of the world doing its bit towards securing national supplies.
Swiss Federal Archives
Archivstrasse 24
CH - 3003 Bern