I shared my compartment on the S6 this morning with a trio of SBB Prevention Officers, identifiable by navy uniforms and luminous jackets with the SBB logo and "Prevention" in the various Swiss languages on them. They spent the journey playing with their iPhones. Should i be worried? Does this suggest there is trouble on the S6 that needs preventing? I have read the shocking stories (well one) on this forum of people openly snorting cannabis and getting "high" on the trains, even early in the mornings. Or something a mite hysterical like that. Or is there a risk of violence on the s-bahns these days? Any ideas? They certainly didn't demand to see my ticket.

"snorting cannabis"
I must try that although I think that might block my nose up a bit

On my train every morning there is gang violence / street fighting and vicious blood letting

Just the other day I saw a man drop a crisp packet. The lady next to him was knitting loudly , and to top it off, some young lad had earphones on. Needless to say I take the Tram now.

If I were you id never use the S6 ever again. They are clearly preparing for a wave of psychotic violence, as well as those evil, evil cannabis 'snorters' (must... keep... straight... face... gnghhh...).

While you're at it, order several metres of cotton wool, wrap yourself in it, and then don't leave the house for a while.

ted83 - Sounds like you need a trio of SBB Prevention Officers onboard

Are you sure you don't live in south london?!

ok, tomorrow i am getting tooled-up and trying the bus. better to be safe than sorry. baden always looks like a pretty rough place, the gangs are probably heading into Zurich to cause trouble or sell crystal meth or whatever. but i am still (mildly) interested in the role of a "prevention" officer...

I think its the latest manifestation of "RailFair" although i wouldn't be able to actually pin down what that was..

sounds like there doing the usual Swiss trick of creating jobs for the sake of creating jobs.....

Im off to by a bike, seems the safest way to get around and as yet I havent heard of any biker gangs in Switzerland

You need to think like a Swiss in this case

"Prevention (of not paying)"

As was mentioned before, they are part of SBB’s Rail Fair campaign (violence and vandalism prevention probably).

in german and french
By showing their presence and by mediating conflicts, they provide a preemptive contribution to calm and order. With their professional approach to customers, prevention assistants bring back humanity to trains and put reckless behaviour in its place. When they have come by, your compartment will not feel as anonymous as before and the travellers will be less indifferent to each other. This surely makes a difference!...
They are members of the train police/Bahnpolizei, their only weapon is the phone.

Other roles in this Rail Fair campaign are:
- Train station "godparents"/Paten who voluntarily provide customer support
- Grands frères/Grandes soeurs (young unemployed who do practically the same as those prevention assistants, max. for six months)
- Fan attendants (who travel with football/hockey fans in the Extrazüge)
- School children attendants

Never heard of this and the campaign started in 2003…Does someone know the number of people involved?

I assumed that these were just uniformed versions of the other Swiss 'prevention' squad: that mass of Swiss people who stand right in front of the door and prevent anyone else from entering / exiting the train.

Maybe like you, they were just on their way to work.............
Or a SBB Prevention Convention