Gregor Frei was fascinated by rail transport and trains from an early age, so deciding to train as a locomotive driver with SBB came naturally to him. "After a few years, I wanted to expand my operational skills and theoretical knowledge," says Gregor Frei. It was, in fact, an advertisement on a train that made him aware of the Mobility Science program at the ZHAW School of Engineering. Attending an information day in Winterthur ultimately convinced him: "I chose ZHAW for quite pragmatic reasons: I could study part-time, which allowed me to continue working alongside my studies. That was very valuable to me. Additionally, it was the only transportation program in the region that was a suitable option for me," explains Frei.

Holistic approach

Looking back, the Mobility Science program proved to be the right decision in many ways. "Through the program, you are trained to become a generalist, which enables you to tackle challenges in day-to-day operations with a holistic approach. I learned the tools for this at ZHAW," says Gregor Frei, summarizing what Mobility Science means to him. "Additionally, the wide range of subjects offers many different perspectives on transportation," he adds, "whether from a legal or planning standpoint." In the end, every graduate has a broad foundation to build upon individually. "The starting position for Mobility Science graduates is very strong," Frei concludes.

But for this ZHAW graduate, the program not only offered a broad academic foundation; he also fondly remembers the atmosphere: "It's a very personal program, and the instructors take a lot of time for each student. You feel well supported there." He also notes that celebrating one's achievements and graduation with the traditional "Frack Week" is something unique that isn't found at other universities.

No workday is the same as the next

Even during his studies, Gregor Frei gained insights into service planning at SBB. "I was able to directly apply much of what I learned in the program, such as organizing event transport for the Heitere Open Air in Zofingen, where my experience as a train driver, my service planning skills, and the theoretical knowledge from my studies all came together," says Frei. As the CEO of SBB Deutschland GmbH, Frei is primarily responsible for the development of transport services in the border region. The company, founded in 2003, now has 120 employees and operates five S-Bahn lines from Basel along the Upper Rhine to Konstanz. "My task is to ensure that everything necessary comes together so that a project can be successfully implemented on the tracks as planned. Additionally, I am in close contact with regional transport authorities, including the state of Baden-Württemberg, the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Schaffhausen, as well as the Swiss Federal Office of Transport. In the end, no two days are alike," explains Gregor Frei. "We are currently launching a new leisure offering that, starting on May 18, will bundle transportation and tickets to Europa Park in Rust," Frei elaborates. On weekends, a direct train will run from Basel SBB to Ringsheim, where shuttle buses will transport passengers directly to the main entrance of the theme park and back in the evening. "This offer is a real milestone for us," emphasizes the ZHAW graduate. But at the end of the day, the goal for all services remains the same: "If the passenger hasn't given us a thought during the journey, then we've done our job right."