The safety of the rapid transit system in Zürich

Abstract

The Rapid Transit System in Zürich is a regular, modern train which will be constructed with the most modern safety equipment. Nevertheless, the thought that 100,000 persons a day will gather at one given place, all underground, under houses and rivers was uncomfortable. A team of experts, combining worldwide knowledge on hazard analysis methodologies, specific knowledge from the Swiss Federal Railways and a great deal of imagination produced a detailed catalog of hazards. Train accidents and fires were identified as the major risks. The layout of the whole construction and a lot of specific safety measures were submitted to a careful evaluation, resulting in both an acceptable protection level and an optimal cost/benefit ratio.