The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) operates a diverse network of routes that traverse cliffs, waterfalls, tunnels, valleys, hills and mountains. Its open observation cars, used for many decades to provide unforgettable journeys through the Alpine landscape, remain particularly popular with passengers. Given the age of these vehicles, new observation cars will be procured to meet current standards, regulations and legal requirements. Enotrac has conducted a comprehensive risk analysis to support the approval of these new cars, demonstrating that they can be operated safely.
About the project
The RhB must review the safety requirements for the planned procurement of 15 new observation cars. While open passenger cars are not prohibited, they do not meet current technical standards due to the absence of window panes. This could potentially increase risks for passengers and lead to deviations from applicable regulations and legal requirements.
Die Zusammenarbeit mit dem Enotrac Team war stets professionell, vertrauensvoll und unkompliziert. Besonders hilfreich war ihre Unterstützung beim Normenabgleich und der Risikoanalyse für einen Spezial-Eisenbahnwagen. Dank des eingespielten Teams fühlten wir uns jederzeit bestens betreut – eine klare Empfehlung!
Our contribution
Prior to the new procurement, Enotrac was commissioned to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis to determine whether the risks associated with operating observation cars without window panes were within acceptable limits.
This analysis was conducted in accordance with D RTE 49100, a key Swiss railway regulation. The document outlines how modifications or special features in railway vehicles must be systematically assessed for safety-related risks and specifies the procedures for traceable, compliant verification.
For the risk analysis, Enotrac facilitated a structured hazard workshop with RhB experts in Landquart. The workshop considered both obvious risks, such as the possibility of passengers falling out, and less obvious scenarios, including insects entering a passenger’s eye or unusually high noise levels in tunnels. Specific protective measures were also identified, including compulsory seating, the installation of clearly visible signage, and the risk-based positioning of observation cars within the train composition. The latter ensures that passengers can move to a closed carriage if necessary.
To capture these special and sometimes unusual scenarios, Enotrac applied a systematic approach, drawing extensively on RhB’s operational experience and expert knowledge. Risk analyses are central to safe railway operations: they identify potential hazards, assess the extent of possible damage, and evaluate the likelihood of occurrence. The objective is to detect risks early, implement appropriate measures, and thereby enhance the safety and reliability of operations over the long term.
Further information on Enotrac’s approach to risk analyses can be found here.
The final safety report concludes that all identified risks, considering both potential impact and likelihood, are within acceptable limits, and that nothing prevents the safe operation of the new observation cars.
Facts and Figures
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Client
Rhätische Bahn
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Period
June 2023 – June 2025
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Location
Landquart, Switzerland
