Dear SBB Community
Deaths from high voltage current are becoming more frequent. Even being close to contact lines is a risk to your life. As a member of the SBB Community, you can make a small but important contribution to safety: talk to those around you about this significant danger.
Since the start of the year, three young people have been killed by high voltage accidents – while trainsurfing or because they climbed onto railway wagons. For SBB, every case is one too many and affects us a great deal. The tragic incidents show how dangerous it is to get close to a contact line.
The facts
Contact lines carry 15,000 volts of current. This is around 65 times higher than a domestic power socket. Rail power can jump a distance of up to 2 metres from the contact line to a person. This can cause electric shocks, internal and external injuries and, in the worst case, death. Direct contact with the contact line is not necessary.
What happens to a hat that comes into contact with a contact line? This video from the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) shows clearly what happens.
What you do in case of emergency
If you see a person climbing on a train or approaching a contact line, call the police immediately on 117. Do not approach the situation yourself under any circumstances.
Why we post this blogpost
The SBB Community wishes to raise awareness of the enormous danger posed by high voltage current – please help us by talking to those around you. General information about safe behaviour at the station, on the train and near the tracks can be found here.
Thank you very much for your help.
Your SBB Community