What rail4mation does

rail4mation AG is a Swiss railway training and consulting firm headquartered in Zürich Altstetten, founded in 2016 as a joint initiative by Schweizerische Südostbahn AG (SOB), Rhomberg Sersa Rail AG, and Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG. In 2019, Müller Frauenfeld AG and C. Vanoli AG joined as additional co-owners, expanding the consortium to five Swiss railway and construction firms. The company delivers certified basic and continuing education for railway personnel — including locomotive drivers (categories VTE 10, A40, A, B100, B), shunting staff (Ai40, Ai), train dispatchers, crane and two-way excavator operators, and overhead line technicians — using a modular curriculum aligned with Swiss federal BAV/OFT/FEDRO requirements. Its core technology stack comprises a TRAXX locomotive simulator (Re 481/482/484) covering ETCS L1 LS and L2 systems, and an e-learning platform (e4learn) hosting digital courses such as 'Von den FDV zum Regelbuch' covering FDV 2025 and EU TSI OPE harmonization.

The business operates on a professional services model, charging course fees (quote-based, with select published prices such as CHF 490 for refresher courses) and requiring a minimum of six participants per scheduled course. Training is delivered at the Zürich headquarters or on-site at client locations across Switzerland, with a multi-language (DE/FR/IT) website supporting registration. Beyond training, rail4mation offers consulting services supporting clients in creating operating regulations compliant with federal guidelines and conducting audits for siding connections (Anschlussgleise). The customer base spans railway operators (DB Cargo Switzerland, SBB Cargo, Railcare, SwissTerminal), construction firms (KIBAG, Müller Frauenfeld, C. Vanoli), infrastructure providers (Furrer+Frey), and large siding owners including Holcim and Migros. The company holds eduQua certification (Swiss continuing-education quality label) since 2019, runs the annual rail4um industry conference as a thought-leadership platform, and is presently navigating a leadership transition with Rein Scholma succeeding founder Josua Gredig as Managing Director effective October 1, 2025.

Name

rail4mation

Legal name

rail4mation AG

Website

https://rail4mation.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

rail4mation AG is a Swiss railway training and consulting joint venture, founded 2016 in Zürich, providing BAV/OFT-certified basic and continuing education for locomotive drivers, shunting staff, and infrastructure workers across Switzerland. It is co-owned by five major Swiss railway and construction firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Personnel Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Rail Operations & Signaling (EDAOANAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Driver & Technician Training, Certification & Workforce Management (THAIANAJ)

Keywords

• Railway training services
• Locomotive driver education
• Railway safety certification
• Shunting personnel training
• Rail infrastructure training

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Railway Training Courses: Provides basic and continuing education courses for railway personnel including locomotive drivers, shunting staff, infrastructure workers, and safety personnel. Revenue is generated through course fees charged to companies and individuals.
2. Consulting Services: Supports clients in creating necessary operating regulations according to Federal guidelines and conducts audits for siding connections.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

rail4mation AG operates a Swiss continuing-education center delivering certified basic training, refresher courses, and continuing education for railway personnel — including locomotive drivers (categories VTE 10, A40, A, B100, B), shunting staff (Ai40, Ai), train dispatchers, overhead line installers, and safety personnel. Offerings combine classroom, simulator-based, and e-learning (e4learn) delivery formats at the Zürich headquarters and on client sites, supplemented by consulting services for the creation of operating regulations and siding audits.

Product overview

rail4mation is a Swiss railway training center offering a comprehensive portfolio of training courses and professional services. The offering includes basic and continuing education for locomotive drivers (Categories VTE 10, A40, A, B100, B), shunting personnel (Categories Ai40, Ai), and railway infrastructure workers. The training programs follow a modular structure, where foundational modules (VTE 10, A40, Ai40) serve as prerequisites for advanced categories. The company also provides a state-of-the-art TRAXX simulator for practical training, an e-learning platform (e4learn) hosting courses like 'Von den FDV zum Regelbuch', and consulting services for operating regulations and track connection audits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Train Driver Basic Training (Category VTE 10) Entry-level three-day training for motor vehicle drivers performing non-licensed shunting movements on siding tracks, maintenance facilities, and blocked station or line tracks. Designed for railway and construction personnel needing foundational qualification.
• Train Driver Basic Training (Category A40) Ten-day basic training for locomotive drivers Category A40 covering licensed shunting movements in stations, siding tracks, and maintenance facilities at up to 40 km/h maximum speed. Required foundational module for advanced locomotive-driver categories.
• Train Driver Basic Training (Category A) Ten-day advanced training module for locomotive drivers Category A, building on Category A40, qualifying participants for shunting movements at up to 60 km/h maximum speed.
• Train Driver Basic Training (Category B100) Twenty-day advanced training for locomotive drivers Category B100 enabling all shunting operations and train driving at up to 100 km/h maximum speed.
• Train Driver Basic Training (Category B) Twenty-day advanced basic training module for locomotive drivers Category B enabling train movements and all shunting operations, building on prior categories.
• Shunting Personnel Basic Training (Category Ai40) Basic training for railway operating personnel Category Ai40 qualifying participants for licensed shunting movements at up to 40 km/h maximum speed, with a minimum participant age of 15.
• Shunting Personnel Basic Training (Category Ai) Advanced training module for shunting personnel Category Ai building on Category Ai40, qualifying participants for shunting movements at up to 60 km/h maximum speed.
• Train Driver Continuing Education (Category B) One-day continuing education refresher course for locomotive drivers Category B that refreshes knowledge of Swiss train traffic regulations and technical basics.
• Train Driver Continuing Education (Category A40) One-day continuing education refresher course for locomotive drivers Category A40 refreshing train formation knowledge, priced at CHF 490 per participant.
• Shunting Personnel Continuing Education (Category Ai40) Continuing education refresher course for shunting personnel Category Ai40 priced at CHF 490 per participant.
• TRAXX Simulator Training Simulator-based training using the TRAXX (Re 481/482/484) locomotive model primarily used in freight transport, covering practical exercises for train driver categories A40/Ai40 through B100/B including shunting, train runs, and all train control systems (ZUB, ETCS L1 LS and L2). Used for basic training, process training, refresher courses, accompanied ride quality assurance, and event recovery.
• E-Learning 'Von den FDV zum Regelbuch' Online e-learning module on the e4learn platform covering Swiss train traffic regulation changes (FDV 2025), EU harmonization via TSI OPE, and infrastructure requirements (IOP/NIOP). Approximately 4 hours of flexible self-paced coursework.
• Consulting - Operating Regulations and Audit Services Professional consulting supporting clients in creating the necessary operating regulations according to federal guidelines, including conducting audits for connecting tracks (Anschlussgleise). Targeted at siding owners and rail operators needing regulatory compliance documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Modular training programs reduce individual training time through progressive certification paths

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schweizerische Südostbahn AG (SOB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member and owner of rail4mation AG. SOB is an independent railway company operating regional passenger services in Eastern and Central Switzerland with approximately 600 employees. Their trains transport over 13 million passengers annually over 5.7 million kilometers.
• Rhomberg Sersa Rail AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member and owner of rail4mation AG. Part of Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group with over 2,500 employees in rail infrastructure construction and maintenance across Europe, Australia, and North America. Provides comprehensive services around rail systems including vehicle maintenance management, logistics, and staff leasing.
• Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn SZU AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member and owner of rail4mation AG. Modern railway company operating two S-Bahn lines in the Zurich regional traffic area. With more than 300 trains per day and 15 million annual passengers, SZU is one of the most utilized private railways in Switzerland.
• Müller Frauenfeld AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined as owner in 2019. Family-owned company since 1971 specializing in rail track construction, track maintenance, construction site security, dual-mode vehicle construction, slope maintenance, staff leasing, trenchless pipe construction, waste disposal technology, and infrastructure project planning. The group employs approximately 350 people throughout Switzerland.
• C. Vanoli AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined as owner in 2019. Part of the Vanoli Group (with Carlo Vanoli AG, Vanoli AG, and Vanomag AG) specializing in above-ground and underground rail track construction. The group employs approximately 600 people and owns diesel locomotives, rail construction cranes, tamping machines, MFS, Vanoliners, rail-road trucks, rail excavators, and other special equipment for rail construction.
• Furrer+Frey AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing overhead line system expertise. A leading provider of contact line systems for public transport nationally and internationally. They develop, plan, build, and maintain catenary systems for regional and long-distance railways, mountain railways, urban and suburban railways, and metros. Also offers charging stations for electric buses and urban/regional trains.
• Lokdrive GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriendly partnership for railway personnel training. Based in Wels, Austria, Lokdrive specializes in designing, planning, and conducting training for railway operational personnel. Since December 2019, they have been an independent training facility with training premises in Salzburg and Wels.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lokdrive GmbH: Austria-based independent training facility for railway operational personnel, with training premises in Salzburg and Wels. Directly comparable to rail4mation as a specialized railway personnel training provider in a neighboring DACH market, and is already listed as a friendly partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Alstom Training Services: Global rail OEM with a training services division covering rolling stock, signaling, and maintenance. Overlaps with rail4mation in driver and operations training but at a much larger global scale and as part of a broader mobility equipment portfolio.
• SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen) Training: Swiss national railway operator with extensive internal training capabilities across driver, dispatcher, and infrastructure categories. Competes with rail4mation for in-scope training delivery while also being a customer, making it both incumbent competitor and channel partner in Switzerland.
• DB Training (Deutsche Bahn): Training arm of Deutsche Bahn, Europe's largest rail operator. Operates broad railway personnel certification programs and represents the largest incumbent in DACH rail training, offering an overlapping but much wider portfolio than rail4mation.
• Siemens Mobility Training: Training arm of Siemens Mobility, providing rail signaling, ETCS, and rolling stock training. Comparable in ETCS-related curriculum and simulator-based delivery, but bundled within Siemens' broader rail infrastructure and technology portfolio.
• BLS AG: Major Swiss regional railway and infrastructure operator with internal training capabilities. Competes with rail4mation for in-house certification of its personnel while also purchasing external training modules, similar to SOB and SZU.

Others

• TÜV SÜD Rail: Global testing, inspection, and certification organization with a dedicated rail practice covering training, audits, and regulatory compliance. Comparable to rail4mation's consulting and audit arm rather than its core driver training, and serves a wider industrial base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about rail4mation