Switzerland’s Federal Council has rejected a parliamentary proposal seeking to restrict the use of English in public announcements on Swiss trains and at railway stations.
The proposal, submitted by MP Daniel Ruch, criticized what he described as the “systematic use of English” in railway communications, arguing that it increasingly comes at the expense of Switzerland’s official languages, particularly Italian.
Ruch argued that English should not simply be placed alongside Switzerland’s national languages, claiming that its growing use risks pushing languages such as Italian into the background.
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), however, has defended its current communication policy, saying that the use of English is intended to improve clarity and efficiency for international passengers.
The Federal Council has now backed SBB’s approach, declining to intervene. Since the Swiss government owns SBB, it was asked by Ruch to take a position on the issue.
The government said SBB is “best placed to know its customers and adapt its practices accordingly.”
It also rejected the claim that English is systematically replacing Italian. According to the Federal Council, English is used selectively at stations with high levels of tourist traffic or where there is a direct connection to an airport.
Swiss railway communication standards also require passenger information to be clear, relevant and appropriate to the circumstances. Information should be provided in the local language, while additional languages may be used when specific circumstances—particularly tourism and international travel—make this necessary.
The decision effectively means that English will remain part of Switzerland’s railway communication system, particularly in areas with large numbers of international travelers.
