Swiss Trains: A Conductor's Perspective from Lausanne to Brig

The rhythmic journey of Swiss trains, traversing diverse landscapes from Lausanne to Brig, forms the backdrop for a new five-episode series. This installment focuses on the experience of Sébastien Santschi, an InterRegio 95 conductor, as he navigates the route from Lausanne.

Santschi, a man of imposing stature, emerges from his machine with the practiced ease of a ship's captain. His focus, however, is immediately drawn back to the unforgiving demands of the schedule. "The timetable waits for no one," he notes, a simple statement underscoring the precision required in his profession.

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The timetable waits for no one.

Accessing the pilot's post involves a short trek through the passenger cars, ascending stairs to a compact space suspended above the tracks. From this vantage point, Santschi commands a 420-ton, 206-meter-long train. The locomotive, he reveals, is situated at the rear, approximately 200 meters away.

"When we depart from Brig, we'll be inside it. That's what I prefer; you really feel the train," Santschi shares, expressing a deep connection to the powerful machine he operates. This intimate relationship with the train, feeling its movement and power, is a highlight of his role.

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The locomotive is at the rear, 200 meters away. When we depart from Brig, we'll be inside it. That's what I prefer; you really feel the train.