Train Travel in and to Switzerland

Switzerland
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Rail Travel in Switzerland

Trains in Switzerland/Types of Train

Switzerland Rail Tickets and Passes from North America and the UK

Trains from London

The Swiss Pass offers unlimited travel on consecutive days on railways & boats as well as most alpine post-buses covering a network of over 16000 kilometres. A discount of 25% is available on many privately owned funicular and mountain railways. It also allows travel on transport services of 37 Swiss towns and cities. The Pass can be purchased in first and standard class. Click here to buy a Swiss Rail Pass.

Trains in Switzerland

The Swiss railway system is run by Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB/CFF/FFS - Swiss Federal Railways) [tel. 0900 300 300; www.rail.ch].
Swiss trains are clean and punctual and travelling by rail is a pleasant experience.
There are first and second class seats on the network which includes most towns of any size. The rail network connects seamlessly with the Swiss postbuses.
A snack bar or a dining car is generally available on express trains and all trains and stations are no-smoking.

Fares are relatively expensive. Tickets are bought at the station which are barrier-free and your ticket will be inspected on the train. If you have no ticket, you will be fined. Many stations in Switzerland have good restaurants. There are luggage lockers and left-luggage offices at all but the tiniest stations. Many stations offer a luggage forwarding service.

Types of Trains In Switzerland

Cisalpino [CIS]: tilting "pendalino" trains run by Cisalpino - a joint venture between Swiss Federal Railways & Trenitalia that connects Basel, Geneva, Zurich (in Switzerland) and Milan, Venice, and Florence (in Italy).
InterCity [IC]: comfortable trains with (often) a telephone, bar, restaurant, lounge.
InterCity Night [ICN]: first class (beds & included breakfast) and tourist class (reclining seats) on these night trains. Restaurant and bistro car. Reservations are required.
InterCity Express [ICE]: high-speed trains (175mph/280kph) connecting Switzerland and Germany.
Train à grande vitesse [TGV]: high-speed trains (200mph/320kph) connecting Switzerland and France.
EuroCity [EC]: these trains connect with other European countries and offer a comparable level of service as IC.
EuroNight [EN]: these night trains connect with other European countries in overnight services.
CityNightLine [CNL]: these night trains connect with other European cities in overnight services.
The above trains are the fastest trains on the Swiss network, next come:
InterRegio [IR] and RegioExpress [RE], which stop more frequently and Regionalzug which are local trains stopping at all stations. Train direct trains go from village to village.

There are several private railways in Switzerland:
BLS is a large private rail operator with many regional services including Bern-Kerzers-Neuchâtel and Berne-Langnau-Lucerne plus S-Bahn serves in Bern.
RhatischeBahn runs services in the Graubunden Canton with services to Klosters, Davos and St Moritz.
Berner Oberland Bahn has services connecting Interlaken, Grindelwald, Zweilütschinen and Lauterbrunnen.
Appenzeller Bahnen services to Appenzell from St Gallen and Herisau.
Frauenfeld-Wil-Bahn links Frauenfeld and Wil.
Rorschach-Heiden-Bergbahn links the hill resort of Heiden with Rorschach.
Schweizerische Sudostbahn suburban services in the St Gallen area.

Switzerland Rail Tickets and Passes from North America

Swiss Pass offers unrestricted travel on the rail, bus and boat network, plus city trams and buses (in many towns and cities). 50% discount on many mountain railways and cableways and free entry to 400 museums.
4, 8, 15, 22 or 30 consecutive days of unlimited travel.
Free Family Card - Children aged 6-15 years accompanied by at least one parent travel free.

Swiss Flexi Pass offers unlimited travel on the rail, bus and boat network, plus city trams and buses (in many towns and cities).
Valid for 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 days of your choice within a 1 month period.  
50% discount on many mountain railways and cableways and free entry to 400 museums. Free Family Card - Children aged 6-15 years accompanied by at least one parent travel free.

Swiss Transfer Ticket offers a return ticket from the Swiss border or one of Switzerland's airports to your destination.
Valid for one month, but each journey must be completed in one day and on the most direct route. Free Family Card - Children aged 6-15 years accompanied by at least one parent travel free.

Swiss Card is valid for one month and offers the same benefits as the Swiss Transfer Ticket. the Swiss Card includes one-day transfers from the airport or border station to a destination in Switzerland and return plus unlimited tickets at half-fare. Free Family Card - Children aged 6-15 years accompanied by at least one parent travel free.

Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month and offers unlimited purchase of train, bus, boat and some cable car tickets at 50% within the one month validity. Free Family Card - Children aged 6-15 years accompanied by at least one parent travel free.

Click here to buy a Swiss Rail Pass.

Swiss Rail Tickets and Passes from the UK & Europe

Apart from travel agents, the International Rail Centre at Victoria Station, London has information and passes as well as major rail stations throughout Europe. [tel. 0870 5 848 848].

Inter-Rail passes are available for people under 26 (who have been resident in Europe for over 6 months). It allows for 12 or 22 days unlimited travel in any one of 8 European zones or longer for travel in more than one rail zone.

The Eurodomino Pass available for European citizens allows travel flexibility in any one of 28 countries in Europe and North Africa. It allows you anything from 3 to 8 days unlimited travel within a one month period on the entire rail network of your chosen country, as well as reduced fares for people under 26 and over 60. The price may vary slightly from country to country.

Click here to buy an Inter-Rail Pass.

Trains to Switzerland from London

From Waterloo Station, London and after 2007 London St. Pancreas, the Eurostar trains to Paris (Gare du Nord) operate all year on a 24-hour basis. Change at Paris to Paris Gare de Lyon for trains to Geneva (3 hours 25 mins from Paris by TGV). Trains to Basel depart from Paris Gare d'Est (5 hours). Eurostar reservations from the UK: 0870 530 0003 Eurostar reservations from France: 08-36-35-35-39

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