Business · Companies · 6 hrs ago
Swiss army awards SBB Cargo a 60 million-franc transport contract
Switzerland's defence procurement office awarded SBB Cargo a contract worth about 60 million francs for military transport and freight-car rental.
The contract covers fuel, armoured vehicles and other supplies for the army's logistics base.
Armasuisse says SBB Cargo is the only Swiss operator able to serve all relevant military sites through its nationwide network for single-wagon freight.
That type of service makes up 60% of the contract, but the deal also includes full-train transport, wagon rental and operating supplies.
Those other services account for about 40% of the contract, and competing providers operate in some of those markets.
Swiss procurement rules generally require a public tender above 230,000 francs, though they allow a direct award when technical reasons leave no suitable alternative.
Armasuisse says the services form one connected logistics chain, and that awarding them together supports efficient planning and coordination, including in crises.
Armasuisse awarded SBB Cargo a contract worth about 60 million francs for transport and freight-wagon rental without a public tender.
The contract covers fuel, armoured vehicles and other material for the army’s logistics base.
Armasuisse says SBB Cargo is the only Swiss rail company able to regularly serve all relevant military sites through a nationwide network for single-wagon freight.
About 40 percent of the contract covers services including full-train transport and wagon rental, where other providers operate.
The procurement authority says these services are closely linked to single-wagon freight and were awarded together to support an integrated transport chain.
- Who
- Armasuisse awarded the contract to SBB Cargo.
- What
- A contract worth about 60 million francs for army transport and freight-wagon rental was awarded without a public tender.
- When
- Recently; the article was published on 26 October 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- Armasuisse says SBB Cargo is the only company able to regularly serve all relevant military sites through its single-wagon freight network, and that the services form one transport and logistics chain.
Armasuisse
Critics of the direct award
Competition
Armasuisse
Armasuisse says SBB Cargo is the only provider able to serve all relevant military sites with single-wagon freight.
Critics of the direct award
The article says competition exists in other parts of the contract, including full-train transport, and industry insiders questioned why those services were not tendered.
Contract structure
Armasuisse
Armasuisse says the other services are closely linked operationally to single-wagon freight and should be awarded as one integrated chain.
Critics of the direct award
The article notes that these other services make up about 40 percent of the contract and may exceed the public-tender threshold.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Contract value
- About 60 million francs
- Main service
- Transport of fuel, armoured vehicles and other army material
- Single-wagon freight share
- 60 percent of the contract volume
- Other services
- About 40 percent of the contract volume
- Tender threshold
- 230,000 francs
3 sources
What people are saying
Single-wagon freight accounts for the main part of the procurement volume.