Question 1

What does CTES mean?

Accepted Answer

The Coordination of Traffic in Exceptional Situations (CTES) includes the preparatory work for crises and disasters (exceptional situations) by all stakeholders in the transport sector. As part of this, CTES comprises all hierarchical levels from the Federal Office of Transport and the cantonal bodies through to the three systems leaders, transport companies and infrastructure operators. CTES provides a structure for crisis management, whereby the systems leaders take responsibility in crisis situations: these are SBB and PostBus for public transport and the traffic management center of the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) for national roads.

Question 2

What is the CTESO and what is its goal?

Accepted Answer

The CTESO (Ordinance on the Coordination of Transport in Exceptional Situations) is the legal basis of the CTES. It defines the responsibilities and tasks of transport stakeholders in preparing for and during actual exceptional situations.

Question 3

Which companies are affected by the CTESO?

Accepted Answer

According to Article 2 of the CTESO, those affected include public transport companies (rail, road, trams, cable cars and ships), rail freight transport companies, road freight transport companies (with more than 20 goods transport vehicles weighing 3.5 tonnes or more) as well as airlines, national airports and air traffic control service providers.

Question 4

When did the CTESO come into force?

Accepted Answer

The ordinance came into force on 1 August 2024 and replaced the two ordinances on the Coordination of Transport in the event of Disasters and Emergencies (CTIO) and the ordinance regarding priority transport in exceptional situations.

Question 5

What is considered an “exceptional situation” with regard to the CTESO?

Accepted Answer

Exceptional situations are events that require coordination among stakeholders in the transport sector. These events can affect the population on a cantonal, intercantonal or nationwide basis. For example, an exceptional situation may include a serious shortage or a threat to security. National defence is also one of the exceptional situations that CTES prepares for.

A local interruption of a national highway is not a CTES event. This can be handled by the canton in cooperation with the FEDRO traffic management center. However, if a major road and rail transport route (e.g. the Gotthard) were to be interrupted for a long time, national coordination would be required. This would then be handled as a CTES event. A pandemic or potential electricity shortage, which require national coordination across all stakeholders, would also be handled via CTES.

Question 6

What role do the systems leaders (SBB, PostBus, traffic management center) play in the CTESO?

Accepted Answer

The systems leaders are the first point of contact for all questions concerning CTES and are responsible for coordination in their respective areas:

SBB: rail transport

PostBus Ltd: public, regional passenger transport (RPT) by road and local public transport - bus, tram, boat, cable car

VMZ: national road transport

Question 7

What obligations do transport companies have with regard to system leadership?

Accepted Answer

They must maintain their transport services to the best of their ability with the resources available during an exceptional situation and also take the relevant preparatory measures. This includes effective emergency and crisis management and the training of relevant employees.

Question 8

How are companies informed about systems leadership measures, especially during an exceptional situation?

Accepted Answer

In the event of an exceptional situation, measures and information are communicated by the systems leaders in systems leader calls. The systems leader calls are aimed at the CTES officers and cantonal chiefs of staff and are announced in advance by the systems leaders.

Question 9

Is there training for transport companies to help prepare for exceptional situations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SBB and PostBus are obliged to train their contact persons (CTES officers). From autumn 2025, all CTES officers will complete a basic e-learning course provided by SBB and PostBus.

Question 10

What documentation do companies need to keep regarding their preparatory measures?

Accepted Answer

All necessary processes and measures taken must be outlined in an emergency and crisis manual. These include productive contact lists with emergency numbers, an alarm process and the company’s own crisis management system with assigned roles in the event of an exceptional situation.

Question 11

Do companies have to name a contact person for crisis situations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every company must name a contact person (CTES officer), and the responsible systems leader (SBB or PostBus) must be notified of this.

Question 12

Who coordinates traffic during an exceptional situation?

Accepted Answer

As set out by the CTESO, various organizations are deployed in the event of an exceptional situation. The Confederation and the cantons set up crisis management committees, whereas the FOT instructs SBB and PostBus to take over system leadership for public transport. These organizations coordinate their areas of responsibility and inform the transport companies of measures in systems leader calls. SBB and PostBus work closely with the Federal Office of Transport.

Question 13

To whom do companies report the CTES officers if several modes of transport (e.g. train, bus and boat) are operated?

Accepted Answer

If several modes of transport are operated and operation therefore falls under the responsibility of both systems leaders, the CTES officer should be reported to both systems leaders.

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