Travelling by train consumes little energy by comparison with other modes of transport. In addition, SBB is continuously reducing its energy consumption off the track. The power used in train operations is largely drawn from hydroelectric power stations.

Low energy consumption is the greatest environmental trump card held by the railway. Trains in Switzerland handle 17 percent of passenger traffic and 43 percent of freight traffic, but use a mere 4 percent of the energy consumed in the transport sector as a whole.

SBB produces most of the power needed for train operations in its own carbon-neutral hydroelectric power stations. The losses in power generation using hydroelectric power are minor by comparison with other energy sources. This means that it is not only the trains' power consumption, but also SBB's primary energy consumption that is moderate.