A switch machine for railway and tramway switches or the like, which switch machine comprises: at least one switch point shifting actuator, which actuator, in use, displaces said points, using actuation drive means, between two limit positions, one of which positions is called normal position and the other of said two positions is called reverse position, and in which positions each of the two points is thrown or open relative to the closest rail, in alternation with the other point, the shifting stroke of the points between said two positions having a predetermined length, matching a given actuation stroke of said actuator, and lock/unlock means (30, 31) for locking/unlocking said points in one of said limit positions, referred to as switch point lock means, which switch point lock means are driven into their unlocking state by said actuator, through an initial actuation overstroke, whose end coincides with the point unlocked state, and with the time at which said point shifting actuation stroke starts, whereas the end of the point shifting actuation stroke, in which one of the points can be moved from an open position to a thrown position relative to the closest rail and the other point can be moved from a thrown position to an open position relative to the closest rail, coincides, in use, with the time at which a final actuation overstroke, through which said actuator can drive said point locking means into their locking state, characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the actuation force exerted by said actuator, for setting said actuation force at different levels for at least two of said initial actuation overstroke, said point shifting actuation stroke and said final actuation overstroke. at least one switch point shifting actuator, which actuator, in use, displaces said points, using actuation drive means, between two limit positions, one of which positions is called normal position and the other of said two positions is called reverse position, and in which positions each of the two points is thrown or open relative to the closest rail, in alternation with the other point, the shifting stroke of the points between said two positions having a predetermined length, matching a given actuation stroke of said actuator, and lock/unlock means (30, 31) for locking/unlocking said points in one of said limit positions, referred to as switch point lock means, which switch point lock means are driven into their unlocking state by said actuator, through an initial actuation overstroke, whose end coincides with the point unlocked state, and with the time at which said point shifting actuation stroke starts, whereas the end of the point shifting actuation stroke, in which one of the points can be moved from an open position to a thrown position relative to the closest rail and the other point can be moved from a thrown position to an open position relative to the closest rail, coincides, in use, with the time at which a final actuation overstroke, through which said actuator can drive said point locking means into their locking state, characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the actuation force exerted by said actuator, for setting said actuation force at different levels for at least two of said initial actuation overstroke, said point shifting actuation stroke and said final actuation overstroke.