Nationalisation of the Gotthard Railway Company

30 April 1909
Swiss railways for the Swiss people
«Swiss railways for the Swiss people!»

Nationalisation of the five big private rail companies at the start of the 20th century polarises public opinion. Those in favour are led by Federal Councillor Josef Zemp. He wins the referendum in February 1898. The poster recalls the event. (1898, Zurich University of the Arts)

In 1909, the Gotthard Railway Company becomes the last of the five big late 19th-century rail enterprises to be nationalised, when it is integrated into Swiss Federal Railways seven years on from the latter's creation in 1902. The transfer to the SBB is delayed because the international treaties with Italy and Germany are still in force. After nationalisation, the Gotthard remains the SBB's most profitable line for decades. It is electrified in 1921, the SBB's first major project on the Gotthard route.

« There are 28 shareholders with voting rights present, representing 48,050 shares or share capital of CHF 24,025,000. »

Minutes of the final General Meeting of Shareholders of the Gotthard Railway Company in Lucerne on 22 June 1912, 3/7/1912

Bundesbahnen gestern und heute

1944, Swiss Federal Archives

Bundesbahnen gestern und heute

Swiss railways yesterday and today, 1944 (Swiss Federal Archives)

211 m Swiss francs

paid by the Confederation to nationalise the company

3.860 m passengers

carried by the Gotthard Railway Company in 1908, the final year before its nationalisation

1.615 m tonnes

of goods carried by the Gotthard Railway Company in 1908, the final year before its nationalisation

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