By Anitra Green, International Railway Journal; April 20, 2018
FOLLOWING detailed examination of applications submitted by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and BLS, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport (BAV) announced on April 19 that it plans to grant SBB a 10-year concession for operation of most of the country’s long-distance services. However, BLS will be granted a concession for the Bern – Biel and Bern – Burgdorf – Olten routes. 
In September 2017 SBB submitted an application to BAV for the continued operation of the entire long-distance network, with the aim of maintaining the monopoly it has held on the sector since 2004. BLS, Switzerland’s second-largest railway, sought a concession for the operation of five routes.
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