Rail transportation: Electronics and Swiss railways: Switzerland's rail system designers' bag of tricks ranges from wayside signals to sophisticated telecommunication and automation

The Swiss rail network has become as sophisticated in its services to its passengers as any in Europe (see the first of this two-part series in the August Spectrum, pp. 44-54). Though less extensive, Swiss suburban commuter and urban transit systems are equally advanced. Why? Speed and traffic density have necessitated a radical upgrading in design sophistication of signaling, safety, and telecommunications systems.