2025 was not a good summer season for the CGN paddle steamers on Lake Geneva with only the diesel electric Italie and Vevey in service during the peak weeks out of a total of eight paddlers on the lake.
The Dampferzeitung magazine of Luzern asked the CGN about the season and various other related topics. Here is the link to the answers given by Vincent Pellissier, General Director of the CGN on the Dampferzeitung website in German: Lac Léman (CGN) – Dampferzeitung.ch
This is the English translation:
Dampferzeitung: How did the number of passengers on the tourist routes develop in the 2025 peak season?
Vincent Pellissier: Traffic suffered from the unavailability of several steamships, especially in July and August. Occasionally, passengers had to stay behind on the quay due to the insufficient size of the ships available. It should be noted that despite a decrease in kilometers traveled by almost 30% compared to 2024, the decrease in passenger numbers was significantly smaller, less than 20%. Given the increase in public transport passenger numbers, CGN’s total revenue remained stable, which is encouraging.
What was the reason, for example, that the “Savoie” came to a standstill in the middle of rush hour and was given a shell overhaul?
Various works on the bow (replacement of the bow thruster) and especially on the stern (new controls) were planned for winter 2024/25. Since this work has not been carried out for twenty years and there was no reliable documentation on the subject, the CGN decided to check the condition of the entire hull beforehand. Using a method of checking hull thicknesses an accurate inventory was made. It was decided to sandblast the entire hull. It was decided to treat the entire ship instead of carrying out selective repairs. This approach illustrates the change in maintenance, where preventive measures now take precedence over repairs. Instead of replacing 35 m² as originally planned, almost 100 m² of sheet metal had to be replaced. This took some time, so that the steamship could not be put back into operation until late autumn.
Why don’t the “NaviExpress” ships always sail?
As is well known, the manoeuvrability at the stern of the two motor vessels Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains still needs to be technically improved, which is to happen from 2027. For this reason, the two NaviExpress are not used at the same time, as in the event of unfavourable weather conditions (gusts of wind, strong waves) or failures of the new ships (“teething problems”), a reserve must always be available to ensure regular operation. This can only be guaranteed by the MS Léman, which has the same passenger capacity. Unfortunately, this can give the impression that “even in calm and nice weather, at least one NaviExpress remains unnecessarily at the quay”. Currently, and until spring 2027, the two NaviExpress are completing their reliability optimization phase as part of their acceptance period. It is a classic step that follows a learning curve, where any disruptions that arise are resolved on a case-by-case basis in order to achieve the level of reliability required for public transport in Switzerland.
How is your catering company reacting to this “special” season?
Our catering partner has done a good job given the unavailability of certain boats. The current way of functioning, in which our entire fleet is made available free of charge without us being able to influence the services, will be fundamentally changed over the next two years.
How does CGN deal with making up for the partly neglected work on the ships? Will there be more decommissioning of ships in the coming year?
2026 will roughly correspond to the 2025 tourist schedule, although the availability of the Belle Epoque fleet will be limited due to the following factors:
MS Italie
After various incidents with the paddle wheels of the MS Vevey and MS Italie, which have been under heavy use since their general overhaul in 2013 and 2016, CGN has launched a successive replacement campaign. The MS Italie will therefore remain out of service next summer to replace its wheels.
MS Léman
At the same time, the reinforcements attached to the MS Léman for stability have some cracks and need to be repaired or even replaced. The MS Léman therefore has to be overhauled in dry dock for six months and is therefore not available.
DS La Suisse
After all, the recommissioning of DS La Suisse after the damage to the high-pressure cylinder in the summer of 2026 is very uncertain and cannot yet be included in the timetable.
The crack in the holder of the high-pressure cylinder was discovered during a routine inspection in May of this year. For safety reasons (the plant is under a pressure of 10.5 bar!), DS La Suisse was shut down immediately. There are now two options for the repair:
- An optimistic, but unfortunately unlikely option: the crack under the cylinder does not extend beyond where it is currently visible to the naked eye and could therefore simply be welded. The DS La Suisse could then be put back into operation next summer.
- An alternative would be the case of a deeper crack affecting the cylinder itself. The repair would then require the replacement of the cylinder and would be very costly. In this case, DS La Suisse’s recommissioning would be scheduled for the second half of 2027.
In November this year, a specialized company will begin an in-depth analysis, which will even include driving tests to observe the behavior of the gap while driving. Everything should be clear by the end of the year.
Other Ships
The small ships Morges, Lavaux and Valais, the three steamships Savoie, Rhône and Montreux, the diesel-electric MS Vevey and partly (in addition to its public transport operations) the MS Henry-Dunant are used for tourist purposes.
What is the schedule for the renovation and financing of the DS Simplon?
The project began with the preparation of a preliminary design for a complete restoration of the ship and was launched this year. In addition to the technical aspects, financing must also be secured, which will be based on the three owner cantons, the ABVL (Steamboat Friends) and a hopefully successful participation of the FOC (Federal Office of Culture). Currently, the estimated budget amounts to 25 million (plus or minus 20%) francs. The goal is to put the ship back into operation by 2031 at the latest after completion of the work.
What does the future of the ship Helvétie look like?
Due to the incident with DS Simplon, the complete restoration unfortunately had to be postponed. However, it is important to mention that this renovation is now included in the “Vision 2040” business plan. The ship no longer has an integrated propulsion system. This decision is at the top of the list in the study already commissioned and funded by the ABVL on the potential impact of future regulations regarding the new sustainability requirements for shipping fleets. The findings from this study, which are being gained from the “Simplon” project, are to be used for the “Helvétie”. The main features of this complete renovation, including the choice of the drive, will be available at the end of 2026. In the course of the same year, essential questions such as use and financing must also be clarified.
The MS Col-Vert is out of service. What will happen to this ship?
After an inspection by the Federal Office of Transport last spring, the MS Col-Vert lost its operating licence. In view of the disproportionately high costs for the repair (estimated at between 2 and 3 million Swiss francs), the CGN decided to decommission the ship.
CGN has lost a lot of goodwill due to the special circumstances of the 2025 season, at least in German-speaking Switzerland. Here in Lucerne or the Bernese Oberland lakes, it has been found that significantly more French-speaking people were on the ships. How does the CGN deal with such a great loss of trust?
After the accident of the DS Simplon in March 2024 and the breakdown of the DS La Suisse in May of this year, the CGN was of course in the headlines in the media of French-speaking Switzerland and even beyond.
It was possible to explain the causes of the current situation, namely the interplay of four factors:
- the years of overuse of our Belle Epoque fleet
- the end of the life of this fleet, which requires a new approach to maintenance and renovation. The series of accidents that occurred in 2025 illustrates this reality
- the underinvestment throughout CGN’s history in the maintenance of existing vessels, but also in the replacement of the current fleet and in basic infrastructure such as the shipyard
- the evolution of legal and other statutory requirements over the course of a century.
CGN’s Board of Directors has been aware of this situation for several years and has developed a strategic vision for 2040 that allows CGN to look to the future with confidence. A timetable is currently being worked out together with the three owner cantons, which is to be presented at the beginning of 2026. Thanks to targeted measures and detailed, credible explanations of the current situation, numerous successful efforts have been made to regain the trust of our customers.
The temporary outage of the fleet’s most popular ships has once again shown how much the entire population of the region and visitors from near and far are connected to them. As a company that preserves this heritage, CGN has a special role to play in this regard. This reinforces our conviction that, together with the cantonal authorities as the main shareholders of CGN and the donors of ABVL, it will be prepared to provide the necessary funds for its maintenance and long-term continued operation in the coming years.
How do you see the tourist timetable in 2026?
Due to the extensive construction work mentioned above and the associated closures, the tourist offer in 2026 will be similar to the tourist offer in 2025.
The 2026 timetable also introduced a paradigm shift, namely an operation aimed at timetable stability. The tourist timetable was therefore drawn up for the Belle Epoque fleet with a replacement ship (a diesel-electric vessel). This avoids the trip cancellations that are possible when operating ships that are over a hundred years old. These failures had a very negative impact on the image of the reliability of the offer among our customers, but also among tour operators, who finally refrained from working with our product due to the lack of reliability. This approach will significantly improve trust in CGN as well as the commercialization of this great product.
Steamboat enthusiasts will be able to admire the DS Savoie until the end of February, followed by the DS Rhône, to which the DS Montreux will be added again from the end of April. Two of the three steamships (which ones have not yet been determined) will exceptionally be used on long working days with double crews to be able to operate evening trips from Lausanne and Geneva to Yvoire.
The MS Vevey is primarily intended as a reserve ship that can be used at very short notice. For this purpose, the MS Henry-Dunant, also with a double crew, will be used on the main Lausanne-Geneva-Lausanne route, between the early morning and late evening public transport journeys between Ouchy and Évian/Thonon.
To this end, the timetables have been relaxed. Minutes have been added to better meet schedules, increase safety during manoeuvres near the shore and gain time for boarding and disembarking. After all, driving is slower in order to reduce energy consumption and thus greenhouse gas emissions per kilometer and passenger. This roadmap aims to increase its reliability while providing a high-quality experience.
One last important change for the 2026 timetable concerns the extension of the high season. The month of September seems ideal to us to offer our customers an extended offer.
How do you see public transport journeys in 2026?
After the editorial deadline, we received a media release, which we attach to the interview here.
The Canton of Vaud, the Communauté de Communes Pays d’Evian Vallée d’Abondance and Thonon Agglomération have reached an agreement to ensure the continuity of cross-border maritime connections on Lake Geneva until 2026. This solution ensures traffic during peak hours while taking into account the budgetary constraints of the French partners.
This agreement is an important step after the termination of the existing agreement by the French side, which had led to discussions about the financing of the service. Thanks to the willingness of both sides to engage in dialogue and with the support of the French authorities, a solution was found.
In 2026, the connections during peak hours will be maintained, while the overall service will be adapted in a targeted manner. As in previous years, the Swiss and French sides will each finance half of the service costs not covered by revenues. Work between stakeholders will continue to create a new legal and sustainable financial framework from 2027. The aim is to ensure the stability of this essential cross-border mobility service between the two shores of the lake.
JHM said:
All of this is a reminder of the issues and potential difficulties of running historic ships and keeping them in service well beyond their design lives of 25/30 years. Of course how long a ship lasts depends on how it is looked after and how it is operated but in the end steel corrodes, even in fresh water, wood rots and structures and machinery become weakened by being subjected to years of stresses, strains, heavy landings and so on. Plus, as M Pellissier points out, legal and other statutory regulations evolve and have the potential to be both difficult and expensive to implement on ships built in another age to different standards. Generally speaking all the Swiss paddle steamers on all the Swiss lakes have already been rebuilt several times, roughly every thirty or so years, during their long careers. It is good news that the CGN is addressing these issues and has plans in place to continue refurbishing and rebuilding their beautiful Belle Epoque fleet of eight paddle steamers to keep them operational into the future.
Kingswear Castle returned to service in 2023 after the first part of a major rebuild which is designed to set her up for the next 25 years running on the River Dart. The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust is now fund raising for the second phase of the rebuild. You can read more about the rebuilds and how you can help if you can here.
John Megoran
