4 Questions for the CEO of Swiss Travel System AG, Sara Roloff

Since the start of 2025, Sara Roloff has been at the helm of Swiss Travel System AG. Today, the CEO answers four of our quick-fire questions.

When did your passion for train travel begin?
As a teenager, I travelled across Europe by train. Boundless freedom – with just one ticket! That’s the same feeling we aim to evoke among our guests visiting Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass. No matter whether they’re 17 or 70, still in school or long since retired. With the Swiss Travel Pass, they can travel throughout Switzerland for up to 15 days – not only by train, but also by bus and boat. It genuinely delights me to see how thrilled our international guests are with Swiss public transport. 

How important is public transport for Switzerland?
Nowhere else do people travel more kilometres by public transport than in Switzerland. And rightly so – trains, buses and boats take you to virtually every place in the country: comfortably, quickly and sustainably. Our international visitors, of course, appreciate this too. I believe that public transport in Switzerland will continue to grow in importance in the future – and that goes especially for our flagship product, the Swiss Travel Pass. Swiss public transport recently set a new sales record for a single month. In May 2025, we celebrated the highest sales of Swiss Travel Passes and Half Fare Cards across all our markets in history. I’d like to congratulate all our distribution partners on this incredible achievement.  

What does travel – and train travel in particular – mean to you?
First off: It never fails to amaze me how multifaceted Switzerland is. Even in summer, the snow-capped mountains are just a train ride away. The same goes for Switzerland’s sunny south. That’s one of the advantages of being in a smaller country.  

For me, train travel represents boundless freedom and the opportunity to gain a unique insight into other cultures. It offers relaxation and inspiration at the same time. For our international visitors, public transport is part of the holiday experience. It allows them to immerse themselves in their surroundings and savour every moment. But I can also be productive while on the train, which saves me a lot of valuable time. No other form of mobility can offer that. 

Where do your best ideas come to you?
Like travelling, running makes me feel great. It’s the perfect way to clear my head. I’m an avid marathon runner – hence I spend a lot of time training. And while running, I can sort through ideas and brainstorm with myself.  

Do you have a question for our CEO? Email us at [email protected] and we might feature your question in a future newsletter.