What inspired the shape of the famous red second hand on the Swiss
Chapter 1

The alpine obstacle course

Chapter 2

The secret of the Taktfahrplan

Chapter 3

Engineering the impossible

Chapter 4

The art of Swiss punctuality

Ch 4 · The art of Swiss punctuality
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lara Swiss passenger trains function as mobile living spaces for commuters

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Tick-Tock Tracks
BETA

lara Route the trains on time to discover how Switzerland turned punctuality into a national art.

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lara The Train as Second Home

Grab a game on the double-decker, slide down to play, On a cozy Swiss train rolling all through the day.

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The iconic railway clock

lara A red second hand shaped like a dispatch baton sweeps the dial in 58.5 seconds before pausing at the top.

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Quiz

What inspired the shape of the famous red second hand on the Swiss railway clock?

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Quiz

Why does the red second hand of a Swiss railway clock pause for 1.5 seconds at the top of the minute?

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Perfect synchronization requires a regular moment to pause and realign.

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The strict definition of on time

lara Other European countries allow up to ten minutes before marking trains late.

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Quiz

What is the strict time limit after which a Swiss train is officially recorded as delayed?

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Quiz

How do Swiss citizens typically react to a train delay of just five minutes?

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Fun Fact

Apple's clock: In 2012, Apple used Hans Hilfiker's Swiss railway clock design in iOS 6 without permission, later paying SBB 20 million Swiss francs to license it.

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Quiz

What is the name of the Swiss annual pass that offers unlimited travel on almost all public transport?

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Quiz

Which of these unusual vehicles can you ride for free using a Swiss General Abonnement?

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Glossary
punctuality (noun)
The quality or habit of arriving or acting at an appointed time. In 2024, the Swiss Federal Railways achieved an impressive punctuality rate of 93.2 percent.

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Quiz

What unique feature can you find inside the 'family coaches' of Swiss double-decker InterCity trains?

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Quiz

On average, which country's citizens travel the most kilometers by train per year in Europe?

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Gossip

Would you pay for an annual pass that lets you ride any transit in your country?

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