What Do You Experience as an Intern at BLS? Get Valuable Tips for Starting Your Career in the Railway World.

I am Omar Jan Abbasi, currently pursuing a Master’s in Vehicle Engineering at the Technical University of Munich. I completed my Bachelor's degree in Stuttgart and recently spent a semester abroad in Norway.

What motivated you to do an internship at BLS?

After a theory-heavy study, I was particularly interested in practical experience. I wanted to explore whether the railway industry is right for me, and I saw the internship as the ideal opportunity for that. Recently, I have developed a fascination for railways. Switzerland is known worldwide as a leader in rail transport. While researching, I came across BLS. Additionally, I was impressed by the relaxed nature of the application process, the quick feedback, and the respectful interaction at BLS.

Can you give us an insight into what you have been doing during your internship so far?

I am primarily involved in optimizing the value chain in track renewal. Contrary to my technically-focused studies, I am currently working more strategically. Nevertheless, my background has been very helpful for understanding the basics. Specifically, I am digitizing various processes, automating, and supporting project coordination along with some minor operational tasks.

What do you particularly enjoy about it?

One notable aspect is the amount of time and opportunities provided to learn about all areas of BLS and the railway sector in general—whether it’s time for reading technical literature, site visits, networking events, or participating in project discussions and meetings.

What advice would you give to students interested in a career in the railway industry?

Starting with a smaller company can be very helpful for getting a comprehensive overview of the diverse world of railways. It’s also useful to attend information events such as Engineers’ Day or to sign up for public tours of railway facilities—these experiences sharpen awareness of the various tasks in the railway sector. Additionally, consider doing an internship or a traineeship to gain entry into the industry and collect initial experiences. It's important to look at not only well-known railway companies but also suppliers and railway technology firms offering such entry-level positions. Applying is definitely worth it.

About BLS

With its wide range of services including rail, bus, ferry, car transport, and freight, BLS is one of Switzerland's largest transport companies. BLS manages a 420 km long railway network. The company constructs stations, lays tracks, and renovates tunnels and bridges. The heart of the BLS infrastructure is the Lötschberg axis, which includes the over 100-year-old mountain route from Frutigen to Brig and the 34.6 km long Lötschberg Base Tunnel, opened in 2007. Together with the Gotthard Base Tunnel, it forms the core of the New Rail Link through the Alps (NEAT) and plays a key role in freight transport between Rotterdam and Genoa.