SBB is not only the largest travel and transport company in Switzerland, it also manages 4,000 plots of land with 3,500 buildings. With the strategic development of stations into attractive service centres, SBB Real Estate is making an important contribution to integrated mobility and to a comprehensive range of services for SBB customers. At the same time, SBB is upgrading the environment of stations through targeted development of the areas around SBB sites. The revenues generated by SBB Real Estate benefit customers and the company as a whole. For instance, SBB Real Estate makes annual settlement payments of CHF 150 million to SBB Infrastructure, thus making a significant contribution to the restructuring of the SBB pension fund.

Since the opening of the first RailCity station in Berne in 2003, SBB Real Estate has continued to further develop major stations into attractive service centres in the best locations, following on with the "Station Plus" concept since 2006. The areas around the stations benefit as a result, making the attractiveness of the location even more important. SBB endeavours to regenerate the area, including offices, apartments, schools, leisure opportunities and much more. The more pleasant the area, the higher the appeal of the entire station environment. It is therefore making a contribution to the future ecological and economic development of the city. Growth in city centres is concentrated in areas that already boast very good public transport connections. It is not surprising that the station and its surroundings are considered to be the business hotspots of the future by trend researchers at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute.

SBB Real Estate embraces its role as owner and manager of SBB properties. Thanks to the 160-year history of the railway, the portfolio is uniquely varied, offers many synergies with the rail business and has great potential for adding value. SBB Real Estate wants to build on this, but will be concentrating upon the further development of three portfolios in the future: railway operations, stations and investment in properties in the vicinity of major stations. In the context of portfolio streamlining, SBB wishes to sell non-strategic properties, for example, areas without a direct connection to railway operations and former freight sheds. The proceeds will serve partly to repay the pension fund loan as well as to contribute to the financing of investment projects.  The SBB plans to invest some CHF 1.9 billion in real estate between 2011 and 2016: for example, in top-class income properties in strategically important locations, at the interface with the major stations but also directly in the stations. It is thereby achieving lasting value creation through recurring income and is ensuring attractive surroundings for stations.