SBB to retire 400 asbestos-contaminated trains

The Swiss federal railways are preparing to retire around 400 trains contaminated with asbestos or other hazardous substances.

SBB says the affected fleet includes freight wagons, infrastructure trains, and passenger stock.

But not immediately. The trains will remain in service into the 2030s, and SBB says passengers are not at risk because the asbestos is sealed inside cloistered sections. 

Dismantling is expected to cost around CHF 2.25 million, and a specialised contractor will work inside a sealed, depressurised hall to prevent fibres escaping. 

Asbestos was banned in Switzerland in 1990.
 

 

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