February 11, 2008--The Swiss Museum of Transport remains by far the most-visited museum in Switzerland. In 2007, the museum enjoyed significantly boosted ticket sales for the second year running. The Swiss Museum of Transport was the destination of choice for 872,905 visitors in 2007, which is 125,179 (17 percent) more than the year before. Of the 2007 total, 508,220 (previous year: 455,319) people visited the museum and 364,685 (previous year: 292,407) the IMAX theater.

Contrary to expectations, the construction work did not have a negative effect on the museum’s popularity. The project for the 50th anniversary year 2009 (“SMT 2009”) has been positively received by the visitors. Membership in the Association of the Swiss Museum of Transport also increased, from 27,059 to the proud total of 27,741 members. Most auspiciously, private sector partners again invested in new attractions. It goes almost without saying that Daniel Suter, Director of the Swiss Museum of Transport, is delighted with the 2007 results.

These positive developments can be attributed to a number of factors. In addition to the rather unsettled summer weather, the new exhibitions and many exciting events were certainly also responsible for the upward trend. Over the past year the Swiss Museum of Transport experienced, presented or announced a highlight virtually on a weekly basis--starting with the opening of the major exhibition “Crossing the Alps – A devilishly exciting story” to mark the 125th anniversary of the Gotthard railway line, and the European premiere of the IMAX film The Alps.

On the occasion of an appropriate ceremony, the museum was awarded the PRO AERO 2007 Commendation for its outstanding portrayal of civil aviation. The list of successes must also include the Lucerne Museum Night, the 1st Lucerne Marathon which finished at the Swiss Museum of Transport, and the presence of Claude Nicollier as guest of honour at the Space Days. Federal Councillor Samuel Schmid and Swiss Railways CEO Andreas Meyer attended the inauguration of the new railway station “Luzern Verkehrshaus” at the beginning of December--an early Christmas gift.

The Swiss Museum of Transport SMT 2009 construction project was launched in spring 2007, and the first topping-out ceremony--for the new entrance building--took place at the end of the year. This event was preceded by the much-publicized relocation of the major exhibits Coronado, DC-3, the Rigi paddle steamer and the Mesoscaph submersible, and by the refurbishing of the legendary Gotthard model railway. The project proceeded on time and on budget, to no small extent thanks to the clockwork precision with which the construction work was organized and carried out.

No. of Visitors	2007	2006	Change
Total Visitors	872,905	747,726	+125,179
Museum Visitors	508,220	455,319	+52,901
of which Planetarium	131,331	141,350	-10,019
of which pupils	59,243	49,744	+9,499
School Classes	3,480	3,036	+444
IMAX Visitors	364,685	292,407	+72,278
Total Members	27,741	27,059	_682

Outlook 2008
The Swiss Museum of Transport has something to offer every taste in 2008: the exhibition “Crossing the Alps – A devilishly exciting story” will continue to run through October, a new own-production Planetarium program is due to be launched, and a series of fascinating new IMAX films will be screened. These are the highlights of an exciting 2008 museum year. The crowning event will however take place in November: the opening of the new entrance building with the “Mediastudio” exhibition, the Conference Center, the restaurant and a shop will mark the completion of the first SMT 2009 project
phase.