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Olten Logistics Hub

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

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Olten forms the geographic and logistical center of Switzerland and is one of the country's most important transport hubs. Located in the Canton of Solothurn, the city sits at the intersection of the North-South axis (Basel-Milan) and the East-West axis (Geneva-St. Gallen). This unique location has led Olten to develop into a central hub for the logistics industry. Numerous companies, such as SBB, the Swiss Post, and international freight forwarding firms, use the site for their distribution centers. Olten railway station is passed by approximately 800 trains daily, making it one of the busiest stations in Switzerland. In addition to rail transport, the region is optimally connected to the road network via the Wiggertal motorway junction. This infrastructure is the backbone of the Swiss goods supply chain and enables efficient logistics operations within a very short timeframe. Economically, the city benefits significantly from jobs in the transport sector and the associated service industry.

Location: Switzerland
Top sights: Stadttheater Olten · APA KultA · Galerie 23
Nearby: Oftringen (5 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	-1	0	4	9	13	17	19	18	14	10	4	0
Rain mm	83	65	82	83	129	118	124	124	87	96	80	92

📋 Practical info

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What is this place?

The Olten Logistics Hub, due to its central location, is one of the most important rail and freight transshipment points in Switzerland. It connects the east-west with the north-south axis and serves as a hub for rail freight traffic.

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Visiting

The site is normally not open to visitors as it is an active marshalling yard. From the footbridge at Olten station, however, one can get a good view of the operations.

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Where to view it

The best viewpoint is the pedestrian bridge connecting Olten station with the Kreuzplatz district. From there, you have a direct view of the shunting tracks and passing trains.

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Local products

As this is a pure logistics hub, no local products are manufactured here. In Olten's old town, however, there are small shops and markets offering regional specialties such as cheese and sausages.

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Active season

Freight traffic runs around the clock, with the highest activity during weekdays. In the early morning and late evening, shunting operations are particularly intensive.

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Nearby

A visit to the logistics hub can be excellently combined with exploring Olten's historic old town. The nearby banks of the river Aare also invite you for a walk.

Geography

Coordinates

47.35240, 7.90380

Facts

Intersection of the main Basel-Bern and Zurich-Geneva transport axes.
Approximately 800 trains stop at Olten station every day.
The headquarters of SBB Cargo is located in Olten.
Distance to Zurich, Basel, and Bern is about 30-40 minutes each.
The 'Philosopher's Stone' marks the geographic center of Switzerland.
Over 10,000 commuters use Olten station every working day.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Olten<1 km · WExplore →

Aarburg4 km · SExplore →

Oftringen5 km · SEExplore →

Arburg Fortress7 km · SExplore →

Zofingen8 km · SEExplore →

Aarau11 km · NEExplore →

Thal Nature Park12 km · WExplore →

Suhr13 km · EExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Start Destination Via (optional)

Overnight stops

Vehicle

Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

Sights in the town Olten Logistics Hub (10)

Stadttheater Olten

Stadttheater Olten is a building complex with theatre, culture, and congress center.

🌐 stadttheater-olten.ch♿

APA KultA

APA KultA is an arts and culture center in Olten.

🌐 apa-olten.ch

Galerie 23

Galerie 23 in Olten showcases art exhibitions.

Kapuzinerkloster⛪ monastery

The Capuchin monastery in Olten is a monastery building in the canton of Solothurn.

Theaterstudio Olten

Theaterstudio Olten is a theatre in Olten.

Zielemp🏰 castle

Zielemp is an architectural structure in Olten in the canton of Solothurn.

Stadtkirche

Stadtkirche in Olten is a church building in the canton of Solothurn.

Kunstverein Olten🏛 museum

Kunstverein Olten is a museum in Olten.

Haus der Museen🏛 museum

Haus der Museen in Olten houses several museum collections.

Kunstmuseum Olten🏛 museum

Kunstmuseum Olten presents art exhibitions.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

Why is Olten a logistics hub?

It is located at the intersection of the most important north-south and west-east railway lines.

What is the Bahnhofshammer?

A historical industrial site near the station, now used for cultural purposes.

Can you visit the logistics centers?

The postal service occasionally has tours of its parcel center in Härkingen near Olten.

What is the Olten kilometer zero?

A symbolic point at Olten station, the heart of the Swiss railway network.

Is it worth staying in Olten?

The old town and wooden bridge are worth seeing; it's a good base for train travel.

Olten Logistics Hub: where is it located?

Olten Logistics Hub is located in Switzerland.

Olten Logistics Hub: what is there to see?

Highlights include Stadttheater Olten, APA KultA, Galerie 23.

Olten Logistics Hub: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.

Olten Logistics Hub: why is it worth visiting?

Olten forms the geographic and logistical center of Switzerland and is one of the country's most important transport hubs.

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