German train helps SBB to gather important information

Commuters who spotted this German train passing through Zug Station may have been wondering what it doing here. It has been brought in to help the SBB gather important information about track geometry.
 
This striking red train marked with DB (which stands for Deutsche Bundesbahn - German Federal Railways) has been seen in Zug regularly of late. SBB spokesman Reto Schärli said that it had been used until earlier this week on the Zug-Chiasso line to be able to provide the SBB with precise information about track geometry, as mentioned. “It is thanks to this that our experts can then determine whether any preventive maintenance work is necessary,” he explained.
 
Of late, the SBB has been frequently criticised for its approach to maintenance, the cost of which is expected to rise to some CHF 1.5 billion a year in 2017.
 
As to why the SBB does not have a train of its own like this one to carry out this specific task, Schärli explained that the country’s network was too small to merit acquiring one.