Switzerland - General Information

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Country Name

Switzerland (Suisse/Schweiz/Svizzera)

National Railway System

National Railway Operator

Schweizerische Bundesbahnen AG (SBB), Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses SA (CFF) and Ferrovie federali svizzere SA (FFS) are the German, French and Italian renderings of Swiss Federal Railways. The form used on buildings and other fixed installations depends on the language area in which they are situated. At a few locations, notably Biel/Bienne, two languages are used. Most rolling stock carries all three sets of initials.

Language

German is the main language.

Written German is almost identical to that found in Germany - one main difference is that the Esszett ('ß') is rarely used, with 'ss' being preferred. Spoken Swiss German however differs considerably from standard German to the extent that many Germans find it hard to understand.

There is an extensive French-speaking area covering Cantons Genève, Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Jura, plus the western half of Valais and a small part of Bern. Certain towns to the west of Bern are officially bilingual. They are normally shown in both languages, e.g. Biel/Bienne and Fribourg/Freiburg.

Italian is spoken in Canton Ticino.

The predominant language in Canton Graubünden is German, but there is a minority language, Romansch. Some place names in this canton are generally given in both German and Romansch, e.g. Disentis/Mustér.

Currency

Swiss franc

UIC code

numeric 85; alpha CH

Timetable

Journey Planner

SBB Journey Planner

Swiss transport journey planner

Downloadable Timetable

  • All services: oev.info.ch/de (German) tp-info.ch/fr (French) and tp-info.ch/it (Italian). These sites replaced the former fahrplanfelder.ch site in April 2023. The German language URL was amended from öv.info.ch to oev.info.ch in July 2024.

Searches can be made by placename, station or stop name and by table number. All Swiss public transport timetables (SBB/CFF/FFS, other rail operators, tram, bus, Metro, ferry, cable-car, ski lift etc) are available on these sites.

An archive of previous years' timetables back to 2006 is on the oev.info.ch site here.

Departure tables for individual SBB stations can be found on the SBB site here. This site can be switched to English, French or Italian.

Printed Timetable

The last printed Offizielles Kursbuch/Indicateur officiel/Orario ufficiale was published in 2017. It is still available in downloadable pdf format; see above. A private publisher still produced the printed volume see but this ceased with the 2024 edition due to lack of demand.

Engineering Information

Bus Information

The Journey Planner (above) selects bus services if they provide the best journey.

The Post Bus website provides comprehensive public transport information.

Maps

Printed Maps

  • Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz by Schweers + Wall.
  • European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball.
  • European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Switzerland) by M.G. Ball.
  • Track plans for RhB (ISBN 3-89494-101-4 pub. 1999) were published by Schweers + Wall.
  • SBB's Schweizer Bahn-Karte, which is widely available, shows all passenger railways, inter-urban bus routes, ferries, cable cars and chair lifts on a 1:301000 relief map of Switzerland. It is available as a pdf at https://tinyurl.com/mucd6mer
  • Schienennetz Schweiz: Ein technisch-historischer Atlas, published by AS Verlag, includes track layout diagrams and gradient profiles for all Swiss railways, as well as a vast amount of other technical and historical data. The most recent (third) edition was published in 2010 and as Author Hans Wägli died in 2019 there will not be a newer one.

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

Fares on some mountain railways are very expensive, though rover tickets, holiday cards, half fare passes and city tickets given free by hotels may give reductions. Discounts may be available for travel on trains early in the morning or late in the afternoon or in low season.

The Interrail One Country Pass for Switzerland is considerably cheaper than the well-promoted Swiss Travel Pass, although the latter includes bus services, lake shipping services and urban transport in most Swiss cities and large towns. Entry to most Swiss museums is also included in the Swiss Travel Pass.

A downloadable map shows the lines on which Interrail tickets are valid in Switzerland, either free of further charge or at a reduced rate.

An online validity map shows where Swiss travel passes, including the Day Saver Pass, are valid.

It is not possible to purchase a ticket on board a train without paying a substantial fine. Tickets must be bought in advance from a machine on the platform,from a train's conductor on the platform, online, or by smartphone. However, the transaction must be completed - including the payment being received by SBB - before the train departs. Some tickets must be date-stamped in a machine on the platform. These rules are enforced rigidly. A few exceptions will be made, for example for travellers changing from an international train who have had no opportunity of buying a ticket.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

SBB Infrastructure, a division of SBB.

A few lines in Switzerland are owned by DB InfraGO AG, the German national railway infrastructure company (formerly DB Netz).

Network Statement

Links towards the bottom of the Track access page

Gauge

The SBB/CFF/FFS system is standard gauge. Most other railways are either standard gauge or metre gauge, and some have sections of both. Various other gauges are used. The Rhätische Bahn and the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn together form an extensive metre gauge system with through workings between the two lines.

A gauge changer at Zweisimmen enables through running of dual gauge stock between the metre gauge MOB and the standard gauge BLS. This is the only such installation in Switzerland.

Electrification

Almost all standard gauge lines are electrified at 15 kV 16.7 Hz ac with 11 kV 16.7 Hz ac on the RhB/MGB metre-gauge system. Various systems are used by other railways, including low voltage dc. The CFF line from Genève to the frontier at La Plaine (but excluding the tracks to Genève Aéroport) was electrified on 29.09.1956 at 1500 V dc. This was last used on 14.07.2014 and the line reopened on 25.08.2014 electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz ac for through running by SNCF trains. Very few lines are not electrified, the main exceptions being the steam-worked Brienz Rothorn Bahn, the freight-only Sursee – Triengen and Solothurn – Büren an der Aare lines (the latter de-electrified when closed to passengers on 28.05.1994) and the Etzwilen to Singen (DE) heritage line.

With the electrification of Erzingen (Baden) to Schaffhausen, the only remaining unelectrified section of the Basel to Schaffhausen line within Switzerland is the 2 km between Basel Bad Bf and the border. DB diesel units continue to operate Basel - Singen services including over the electrified Swiss sections either side of Schaffhausen. Electrification of the Basel to Erzingen section (almost all within Germany) is planned for completion in 2027; see this DB press release.

Most tramways operate at 750 V dc.

Rule of the road

Left, except for right hand running as follows:

  • on DB InfraGO lines between Basel Bad Bf and the frontiers towards Weil am Rhein and Grenzach
  • on the DB InfraGO line between Erzingen (Baden), Schaffhausen and Thayngen Grenze
  • on the SNCF Réseau line from Mulhouse between St Louis Grenze/Frontière and Basel SBB / Bâle SNCF
  • between Genève and Annemasse (SNCF) which reduces conflicts at La Praille and Annemasse.
  • on double-track sections of the RBS (Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn) network
  • on the northern (fast) pair of lines between Zürich Altstetten and the flyover adjacent to RB Limattal (Rangierbahnhof/marshalling yard). The southern (slow) lines have left-hand running. The westbound fast line uses the flyover to cross the other three lines so that west of there the lines are paired by direction with left-hand running.
  • Double track was commissioned between Buchs and Sevelen on October 25 2024. This section is operated with right hand running as Sevelen was not provided with a second platform as part of the work.

There is extensive bi-directional signalling, so it is quite usual for trains to run on the right-hand track if this suits operating requirements.

Distances

Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz by Schweers + Wall is the most easily available source of distance information.

Detailed distances for most of SBB can be found at Linie mit Betriebspunkten. This is a list of stations and junctions with distances to 3 decimal points. It does not, however, take account of deviations which increase or decrease the distance.

The Schienennetz Schweiz (see the Printed Maps section) was the definitive publication but was last updated in 2010

Other Railways

Cantons (local government) have extensive shareholdings in many of these railways. Some railways have amalgamated in recent years or combined their operations. Rolling stock, tickets and publicity may still bear old names in some cases. In many cases other railways operate over SBB lines and vice versa. Funicular railways are not listed.

Aare Seeland mobil AG www.asmobil.ch: Biel/Bienne to Ins; Niederbipp to Langenthal and St Urban Ziegelei; Solothurn to Niederbipp: Metre gauge, 1200V dc. The freight-only line from St Urban Ziegelei to Melchnau officially closed on 21.03.2012 but the last train was a passenger special on 18.09.2011

Aargau Verkehr AG www.aargauverkehr.ch/: Wohlen to Dietikon: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc. Aarau to Schöftland and to Menziken. Metre gauge, 750 V dc.

Appenzeller Bahnen AG www.appenzellerbahnen.ch:

  • Gossau to Appenzell and Wasserauen; St Gallen to Gais and Appenzell; Gais to Altstätten Stadt; St Gallen to Trogen: Metre gauge, 1500V dc, with Strub rack between Stoss and Altstätten Stadt.
  • Rheineck to Walzenhausen: 1200 mm gauge, 600 V dc, with Riggenbach rack between Ruderbach and Walzenhausen.
  • Rorschach to Heiden: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with Riggenbach rack, except at Rorschach.
  • Frauenfeld to Wil: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc. This line was absorbed into the Appenzeller Bahnen system in 2021.

BLS AG www.bls.ch: Lengnau to Moutier; Bern to Neuchâtel and to Schwarzenburg; Bern to Thun via Belp; Thun to Brig and to Visp via the old and new Lötschberg tunnels; Spiez to Interlaken Ost and to Zweisimmen; Solothurn to Moutier and to Burgdorf; Burgdorf to Thun and to Langnau; Ramsei to Sumiswald-Grünen; Langenthal to Wolhusen; Sumiswald-Grünen to Wasen im Emmental and to Huttwil (freight only to Burghof and Huttwil but with summer tourist operation by Emmentalbahn to Wasen and Huttwil - see below). All standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. SBB operates all long-distance passenger trains over the Lötschberg route and to Interlaken. BLS operates local services in the Bern area, including those over SBB lines. Lengnau to Moutier forms part of the main line from Biel/Bienne to Basel and all passenger trains are operated by CFF.

Brienz Rothorn Bahn brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch: Brienz to Rothorn Kulm: 800 mm gauge with Abt rack. The line is not electrified and most trains are steam-worked. The railway does not operate during the winter. Storm damage abruptly ended their 2024 operations on August 12 2024. They are expected to resume on May 10 2025

Dolderbahn Betriebs AG Dolderbahn: Zürich-Römerhof to Zürich-Dolder: Metre gauge, 600 V dc, with Strub rack throughout. Managed by Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich.

Ferrovie autolinee regionali ticinesi trading as Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli www.vigezzinacentovalli.com: Locarno to Camedo (line continues through Italy as Societa Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie to Domodossola): Metre gauge, 1200V dc.

Forchbahn AG www.forchbahn.ch: Zürich-Rehalp to Esslingen (operates over the Zürich tram system between Rehalp and Stadelhofen): Metre gauge, 1200V dc (600V on the tramway section).

Gornergrat Bahn www.gornergrat.ch: Zermatt to Gornergrat: Metre gauge, 750 V 50 Hz three-phase, with Abt rack throughout. The railway is managed by the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn.

Jungfraubahnen www.jungfrau.ch: Jungfraubahn Holding AG and Berner Oberland Bahnen AG are jointly-managed companies that own and operate the following lines:

  • Berner Oberland Bahnen: Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen and to Grindelwald: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack.
  • Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren: Grütschalp to Mürren: Metre gauge, 550 V dc.
  • Jungfraubahn: Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch: Metre gauge, 1125 V 50 Hz three-phase, with Strub rack throughout.
  • Schynige Platte Bahn: Wilderswil to Schynige Platte: 800 mm gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack. No winter service.
  • Wengernalpbahn: Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen and to Grindelwald: 800 mm gauge, 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack.

Chemins de fer du Jura www.les-cj.ch:

  • La Chaux-de-Fonds to Glovelier; Le Noirmont to Tavannes: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc.
  • Porrentruy to Bonfol: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz.

Chemin de fer Lausanne-Echallens-Bercher SA www.leb.ch: Lausanne-Flon to Bercher: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc.

Ferrovie Luganesi SA flpsa.ch: Lugano to Ponte Tresa: Metre gauge, 1000 V dc.

AG Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn www.matterhorngotthardbahn.ch: Zermatt to Brig, Andermatt, Göschenen and Disentis/Mustér: Metre gauge, 11 kV, 16.7 Hz, with several sections of Abt rack.

Ferrovia Monte Generoso MG: Capolago Lago (special workings only) / Capolago-Riva S. Vitale to Generoso Vetta: 800 mm gauge 650 V dc

Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland Bernois journey.mob.ch: Montreux to Zweisimmen and Lenk: Metre gauge, 900 V dc.

Chemin de fer Nyon-St Cergue-Morez www.nstcm.ch: Nyon to La Cure: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. The company's name reflects that railway originally continued to Morez, in France, but the line beyond the Swiss border at La Cure closed in 1958.

Oensingen-Balsthal Bahn AG www.oebb.ch: Balsthal to Oensingen: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Passenger services are worked by SBB.

Pilatus Bahnen AG Pilatusbahn: Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm: 800 mm gauge, 1550 V dc, with Locher rack, unique to this line. The steepest rack railway in the world, it does not operate during the winter.

RegionAlps SA www.regionalps.ch: A joint venture between CFF (70%), Transports de Martigny et Régions SA (18%) and Canton Valais (12%) responsible for operation of local passenger trains between Brig and St Gingolph and from Martigny to Le Châble and Orsières.

Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn AG www.rbs.ch:

  • Bern to Solothurn, Unterzollikofen and Worb Dorf via Worblaufen: Metre gauge, 1250 V dc.
  • Bern Egghölzli to Worb Dorf via Gümligen: Metre gauge, 600 V dc, with through running at Egghölzli onto the Bern tram system.

Rhätische Bahn www.rhb.ch:

  • Chur to Arosa; Chur to St Moritz and Pontresina via Thusis; Reichenau-Tamins to Disentis/Muster; Chur to Filisur via Davos; Klosters to Sagliains and Susch; Bever to Scuol-Tarasp; Samedan to Pontresina: Metre gauge, 11 kV 16.7 Hz.
  • St Moritz to Tirano: Metre gauge, 1000 V dc.

There is mixed-gauge track Chur to Ems Werk, to allow freight operation by SBB. The Italian and Romansch names Ferrovia retica and Viafier retica appear on rolling stock, but the abbreviation 'RhB' is always used.

Rigi Bahnen www.rigi.ch: Vitznau to Rigi Kulm; Arth-Goldau to Rigi Kulm: 1500 V dc, with Riggenbach rack on both lines.

Schweizerische Südostbahn www.sob.ch: Romanshorn to St Gallen St Fiden; St Gallen to Wattwil and Nesslau-Neu St Johann; Rapperswil to Arth-Goldau, Wädenswil to Samstagern, Biberbrugg to Einsiedeln: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. The company operates local trains over some SBB lines in Eastern Switzerland. The company trades as Südostbahn, but the service between Luzern and St Gallen is branded Voralpen-Express, the IR service between Zürich/Basel and Locarno via the old Gotthard Tunnel is branded Treno Gottardo and the IR service between Basel, Zürich and Chur is branded as Aare Linth.

Sensetalbahn: Flamatt to Laupen: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. The company is owned jointly by SBB (66%) and Swiss Post (34%) and owns the infrastructure on the branch, but maintenance and operation of the infrastructure is contracted to SBB. Trains are operated by BLS. Rail-cycles can be hired throughout the year at Laupen old station for use on the closed railway from there most of the way to Gümmenen.

Sihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG www.szu.ch:

  • Zürich HB to Uetliberg: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz (from 22 August 2022. Was 1200 V dc until 26 July 2022).
  • Zürich HB to Sihlbrugg: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. There is no regular passenger service between Sihlwald and Sihlbrugg, although occasional steam trains operate through from Zürich.

Sursee-Triengen-Bahn AG www.sursee-triengen-bahn.ch: Sursee to Triengen: Freight only, standard gauge, not electrified. Occasional steam passenger trains operate.

Thurbo AG www.thurbo.ch: A SBB (90%) and Canton Thurgau (10%) joint venture for operation of local trains in north-east Switzerland.

Transports de Martigny et Régions SA www.tmrsa.ch:

  • Martigny to Orsières and Le Châble: Standard gauge 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Operated by RegionAlps SA.
  • Martigny to Le Châtelard-Frontière: Metre gauge, 800 V dc, with Strub rack and third rail electrification between Vernayaz and Salvan. There are through workings over the SNCF line to Chamonix.

Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera www.mob.ch:

  • Vevey to Les Pléiades: Metre gauge, 850 V dc, with Strub rack Blonay to Les Pléiades.
  • Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye: 800 mm gauge, 850 V dc, with Abt rack.

Managed by Chemin de Fer Montreux Oberland Bernois.

transN SA (Transports Publics Neuchâtelois) www.transn.ch:

  • Les Brenets to Le Locle; La Chaux-de-Fonds to Les Ponts-de-Martel : Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. Les Brenets to Le Locle was to close in December 2023 for conversion to an electric busway, but this was deferred. On 26.09.2024 the local authority announced that the line would close in December 2031 after improvments to the existing road that will avoid the need to use the railway trackbed
  • Travers to Fleurier and Buttes: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. There are occasional steam trains over a non-electrified standard-gauge freight branch from Fleurier to St Sulpice.

Transports Publics du Chablais www.tpc.ch:Télésiège Tête d’Aï

  • Aigle to Leysin Grand Hotel: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc, with Abt rack, except between Aigle and Aigle Dépot. To be diverted to Leysin-Télécabines instead of Leysin Grand Hotel by 2033. Project website at https://www.leysin365.ch/ (French)
  • Aigle to Le Sépey and Les Diablerets: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc.
  • Monthey to Aigle and to Champéry: Metre gauge, 850 V dc, with Strub rack on most of the line to Champéry. To be converted to 1000 V dc and Abt rack and diverted to Monthey SBB by 2029.
  • Bex to Villars-sur-Ollon and Col-de-Bretaye: Metre gauge, 650 V dc, with Abt rack between Villars-sur-Ollon and Col-de-Bretaye.

Transports Publics Fribourgeois Holding (TPF) SA www.tpf.ch:

  • Bulle to Palézieux and Montbovon: Metre gauge, 800 V dc.
  • Romont to Bulle; Ins to Muntelier; Murten to Givisiez: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz.
  • Bulle to Broc-Fabrique: Standard gauge 15 kV, 16.7 Hz. Originally metre gauge, 800 V dc; metre gauge last ran April 5 2021. Bulle to Broc Village reopened standard gauge December 11 2022 and Broc Village to Broc Fabrique on August 24 2023

Transports de la Région Morges-Bière-Cossonay SA www.mbc.ch: Morges to Bière; Apples to L’Isle-Mont-la-Ville; Bière Jonction to Bière-Casernes (freight only): Metre gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Also operate open access freight services on the SBB network.

Travys (Transports Vallée du Joux Yverdon-les-Bains Sainte Croix SA) www.travys.ch:

  • Yverdon to Ste Croix: Metre gauge, 15 kV, 16.7 H z.
  • Chavornay to Orbe: Standard gauge, 700 V dc to be converted to 15 kV 16.7 Hz by December 2026, line expected to be closed for the work from December 2025 to December 2026
  • Le Pont to Le Brassus: Standard gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with through running via CFF to and from Lausanne, joining/splitting from Vallorbe trains at Le Day.

Waldenburgerbahn www.blt.ch: Liestal - Waldenburg: Metre gauge, 1500 V dc. Originally 750 mm gauge, but closed for conversion April 6 2021 and reopened December 11 2022. In 2016 the railway became part of BLT Baselland Transport AG.

Zentralbahn (ZB Zentralbahn AG) www.zentralbahn.ch:

  • Luzern to Interlaken Ost and Engelberg: Metre gauge, 15 kV 16.7 Hz with some Riggenbach rack sections.
  • Meiringen to Innertkirchen: Metre gauge, 1200 V dc, but may be converted to 15 kV.

The company is 66% owned by SBB.

Tourist lines

Many railways operate principally for tourists, usually daily throughout the year, but the following are "heritage" operations:

Chemin de fer touristique Blonay-Chamby: Blonay to Chamby (metre gauge) BC

Dampfbahn Furka Bergstrecke: Realp to Oberwald (metre gauge) dfb.ch

Dampfbahn Verein Zürcher Oberland: Bauma to Hinwil (former SBB line closed to passengers 31.05.1969.) First DVZO train ran from Bauma to Bäretswil May 6 1978 and over the whole line May 13 1979 SBB remained infrastructure owner for the whole line until 2000 when Bauma to Bäretswil was transferred to DVZO ownership. In 2018 Sursee-Triengen took over Bäretswil to Hinwil and maintenance of Bauma to Bäretswil on behalf of DVZO. SBB still operate freight trains to a cement works in Bäretswil dvzo.ch

Emmentalbahn: Sumiswald-Grünen to Huttwil and Wasen im Emmental (BLS Lötschbergbahn lines with no other passenger service) emmentalbahn.ch

Sursee-Triengen-Bahn: Sursee to Triengen ('private' freight-only line) sursee-triengen-bahn.ch

Museumsbahn Stein am Rhein - Etzwilen - Singen: Etzwilen to Singen (DE). etzwilen-singen.ch

Vapeur Val de Travers: Travers to St Sulpice (there is a regular passenger service by transN between Travers and Fleurier) vvt.ch

Zürcher Museumsbahn: Zürich-Wiedikon to Sihlbrugg (there is a regular passenger service by Sihltal Zürich Uetlibergbahn between Zürich-Giesshübel and Sihlwald) museumsbahn.ch

The Sinfin.net site has links to most Swiss railways including other museum or tourist railways.

Metro

A significant number of local lines around Swiss towns and cities have Metro characteristics. The Metro system in Lausanne, between Lausanne-Flon and Renens VD and between Ouchy and Croisettes, is the only one designed and built as such, though a short section of the line from Ouchy is converted from a former rack line.

A track plan of the Lausanne system is available on the Carto.Metro site.

Trams/LRT-Systems

        The Basel system extends into France and Germany.

All the above tram services appear in the Swiss timetable pages in German and French.

Track plans for Basel, Bern and Zürich are available on the Gleisplanweb site. A track plan of the Genève system is available on the Carto.Metro site.

An unusual tramway is Riffelalptram, connecting Riffelalp station on the Gornergratbahn with the Riffelalp Resort hotel. It is 424 m long, located at altitude 2200 m, and is 800 mm gauge and battery-operated. It runs from late June to mid-September only and is shown in Table 12.580 of the Swiss timetable.

See also Switzerland - Tram services over obscure routes

Recent and Future Changes

Recent changes

Openings (completely new lines)

The new gauge changer installed at Zweisimmen in 2019 was finally used by through Interlaken Ost - Montreux "Golden Pass" services from 11 December 2022. Through services were suspended from 26 February 2023 after further problems were encountered, but resumed, initially with only one train each way, on 11 June 2023, increasing to two train pairs (out of the three scheduled) from 2 July 2023.

A diveunder opened on 12 September 2022 at Bern Wylerfeld, where the lines towards Thun and Olten diverge just short of Bern Wankdorf station. This has permitted the introduction of direct services between Romanshorn, Zürich Flughafen and Interlaken from December 2022, among other service improvements.

A new flyover between Prilly-Malley, west of Lausanne, and Renens VD was brought into use on 4 July 2022. It carries Bern – Lausanne – Genève trains over the tracks used by trains between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains. The line between Lausanne and Renens has also been quadrupled throughout.

Openings (new lines replacing other lines)

A new Albulatunnel, on the Rhätische Bahn, opened to service trains on 12 June 2024. (Free shuttle trains through the new tunnel ran during an open day on the 9th.) The old tunnel will be retained (without rails) for maintenance access and safety evacuation.

A new approx. 1.4 km section of underground line on the metre-gauge LEB (Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher) line between Lausanne-Chauderon and Union-Prilly was inaugurated on 14 May 2022, with public opening the following day. This replaced the previous route which mainly had on-street running.

Following the linking of the Appenzeller and Trogener Bahn lines in St Gallen, a more direct exit route from St Gallen towards Appenzell to the north of the former SBB goods station opened on 25 October 2021, replacing the line to the south, which closed on 17 October. A new tunnel, which replaced the rack-equipped section between St Gallen and Riethüsli, opened on 7 October 2018.

Reopenings after temporary closures

The Gotthard Base Tunnel fully reopened on 2 September 2024. This followed repairs to extensive damage from a freight train derailment on 10 August 2023.

The TPF branch from Bulle to Broc Fabrique reopened fully on 24 August 2023 after having been regauged from metre to standard gauge, and realigned in a few places. It had closed on 6 April 2021 and was reopened as far as Broc-Village on 11 December 2022. Broc Fabrique station was renamed Broc-Chocolaterie on 10 December 2023. There is no longer any rail access to the chocolate factory itself.

The former 750mm-gauge line between Liestal and Waldenburg (Waldenburgerbahn) reopened on 11 December 2022 after having been converted to metre-gauge. It had been closed since 6 April 2021. A longer-term aspiration is to link this line up with BLT tram route 14 at Pratteln.

The TPC-operated Aigle–Sépey–Diablerets (ASD) line reopened on 2 May 2022, having been closed since 30 July 2021 between Exergillod and Les Planches as a result of landslide damage at Les Fontanelles.

Permanent Closures (not replaced by other lines)

Regular services on the sparsely-served 250 m extension of the Ferrovia Monte Generoso from Capolago-Riva S. Vitale to Capolago Lago (KBS 636) ceased after 29 October 2023. The line however remains available for private charters or special workings.

A new station came into use at Laupen on 5 April 2021. This is east of the old one, resulting in the branch line becoming 250m shorter.

Temporary closures

The TRN line from Travers to Buttes will be closed for engineering from start of traffic 15.12.2024 until end of traffic 27.04.2025.

Following storm damage on 12.08.2024 the Brienz-Rothorn Bahn is expected to be closed until May 10 2025.

The CJ Line from Les Breuleux to Le Noirmont is closed for engineering work from start of traffic 01.03.2025 to end of traffic 30.10.2025

Grellingen–Duggingen on the line from Basel to Delemont will have no trains from 30.04.2025 until 30.09.2025 (provisional dates) due to engineering work


Le Pont to Le Brassus is closed for engineering work from start of traffic 11.04.2025 to end of traffic 03.11.2025

There will be no SZU trains between Triemli and Uetliberg from 19.05.2025 to 30.09.2025 due to engineering work.

The LEB line from Lausanne Flon to Cheseaux is closed for enginerring work from start of traffic 28.06.2025 to end of traffic 17.08.2025

The SBB line from Bern to Freiburg (Fribourg) will be closed for engineering work from start of traffic 28.06.2025 until end of traffic 24.08.2025

Shorter engineering closes can be found on the oev-info site

The TRAVYS line from Chavornay to Orbe is expected to be closed for the entire 2026 timetable period while it is converted to 15 kV AC and a curve from the Lausanne direction is built.

The rack-operated line from Rheineck to Walzenhausen (KBS 858) was to close on 14 December 2024 for work to replace the currently-used 1958-built vehicle with a new automatic rack vehicle. The line was expected to reopen in 2026 and then be the first fully-automatic driverless rack railway in the world. During a presentation to a transport conference on 29.08.2024 the AB stated that opening of the automatic line was now planned for 2027 An email from the AB on 11.09.2024 confirmed 2027 also stating that the 1958 car would remain in service until early 2026. More details are in this press release from Appenzeller Bahnen (in German).

Other changes

A re-sited station at Le Day, between Lausanne and Vallorbe, opened on 16 May 2022. It has been moved 300 metres nearer Vallorbe, from within the V of the junction for the Le Brassus line to the other side of the junction. This is to allow portion working from Lausanne of trains to Vallorbe and Le Brassus, splitting at Le Day.

Future Changes

Planned Closures

Closures expected to go ahead

Timetable changes effective from 15 December 2024 include the hourly IC service between St Gallen and Genève Aéroport via Biel/Bienne being diverted to Lausanne, with connections to and from Genève at Renens. This will result in there being only a very limited service via the line between Bussigny and Denges-Echandens.

The station at Sihlwald on the SZU line from Zürich is proposed to be relocated 300 m north in 2026, thus closing a short section of the line to regular passenger services. The line beyond the new station is still expected to be used by the Sunday steam specials to Sihlbrugg.


In Bern the section of Tram Line 6 from Kaufmännischer Verband to Fischermäteli is threatened with closure in 2026 (replacement by battery bus) after the Cantonal parliament voted against contributing to the cost of track replacement despite the people of Bern voting for the city's share in a referendum on 22.09.2024


The rack line from Gais to Altstätten Stadt is planned to be closed in 2035 when the existing rolling stock comes up for replacement, following a review in 2019 by Cantons St Gallen and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.

Closures proposed but not going ahead

The metre-gauge branch from Le Locle to Les Brenets was to close in December 2023, with the trackbed being converted to a busway for electric buses. However, 'geological problems' encountered in planning the enlargement of the rail tunnels to accommodate buses have led to the closure being deferred until at least 2031, and possibly later than that, or cancelled altogether. As a result of storm damage on 24 July 2023 the line was closed and replaced by buses, but despite fears that it would remain closed, rail services resumed on 1 November 2023.

The Porrentruy – Bonfol line had reportedly been threatened with closure owing to the cost of renewing the signalling and providing universal access, although no actual closure plans were published. In late 2023 it was announced that the line was to be refurbished, so it would appear that it is now safe from closure.

Openings

New lines under construction

TPC (Transports Publics du Chablais) are to construct a short (220 m) curve at Les Planches on their metre-gauge Aigle – Le Sepey – Les Diablerets (ASD) line to allow direct running from Aigle to Les Diablerets, therefore avoiding the reversal at Le Sepey. Orignally planned to open in 2025,an invitiation to tender for the work was only issued on August 26 2024 and this gave planned compeltion June 1 2027; after opening, alternate trains will run via the new curve or via Le Sepey.

A new 7.7 km-long standard-gauge tramway is under construction between Lausanne-Flon and Croix-du-Péage, north of Bussigny. The first stage of 4.6 km is due to open in mid-2026. It will run to the north of the Lausanne to Renens railway line along the main road between Lausanne and Renens (Rue de Genève and Rue de Lausanne). The second stage of 3.1 km turns north and runs towards Villars-Sainte-Croix and is due to open at the end of 2027. Loops at either end will not be required as double-ended trams have been ordered.

Alternative lines under construction

The Rhätische Bahn have received approval for a deviaton between Fideris and Küblis. The deviation will be around 1660 metres of which 1400 will be in tunnel. Its purpose is to eliminate curves to increase linespeed from 45 km/h to 90 km/h. Work is scheduled to start in 2027 with the line opening in 2032. Fideris station will be relocated as part of the work and the line distance will be reduced by approximately 160m

A new low-level part of Bern station is under construction. This will replace platforms 21-24 which serve the RBS lines via Worblaufen to Worb Dorf and Solothurn. A new line will diverge from the existing line 1.324km south of Bern Felsenau station and lead to the new station, which will have two island platforms and four platform faces. The new line and station are expected to open in December 2029.

A double-track tunnel of 2130 m is under construction as part of a 3.3 km deviation to replace the single-line section between [La Neuveville], Chavanne and Twann, on the line between Neuchâtel and Biel/Bienne. This is the last single-track section on the entire route between Lausanne and Olten. The halt at Ligerz on the current line will close without replacement. The new line was due to open in December 2026 but opening has been postponed until 2029 because of protests and appeals, and new environmental protection requirements.

The ASm narrow gauge line from St Urban to St Urban Ziegelei will close in 2030. a new line about 250m long, will be built from St Urban to near the town's Abbey to replace it.

On 26.02.2024 the Swiss Government approved finacing for the completion of the second Lötschberg Base Tunnel. To save money km 14.65 to km 35.22 was built with only one tunnel completed. It is aimed to have full double track operation by 2035

The Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn is planning a major deviation between Täsch and Zermatt. It will start at km 38.90 (Täsch Station is 38.37) and end at 43.46 (Zermatt 43.98) The project will elminate a rack section and halve the journey time between Täsch and Zermatt. It will include the 4144 metre Mattertal Tunnel, the middle 1358 metres will be double track. Available documentation suggests the overall distance will not change. Work is due to start in 2028 with the new line opening in December 2035. Detailed pdf on the project

New or alternative lines planned

The TRAVYS operated Chavornay – Orbe branch is to be converted from 750 V DC to 15 kV AC and the current station forecourt platform and level crossing at Chavornay replaced by a new alignment from 1.3 km north. Work was intended to commence in summer 2021 for completion in 2023, but legal action from the local authority demanding an underpass instead of a bridge to cross the main road delayed the process. After they lost their final appeal on March 5th 2024 work started in June 2024 for opening with the December 2026 timetable change

A 3.336 km diversion of the Romont to Bulle line is planned, in order to remove a number of sharp curves and level crossings. This is currently expected to open in December 2028

It is planned to divert the Lugano-Ponte Tresa line of Ferrovie Luganesi via a direct tunnel between Lugano and Bioggio, with the present route via Capella-Agnuzzo closing. This could be completed by 2029.

The Transports Publics du Chablais (tpc) have two projects:

  • Monthey-Ville on the Aigle – Monthey – Champéry line is to be closed and the lines serving it diverted to Monthey SBB. The project was suspended in December 2019 following local objections. A revised plan has been published but work is not expected to commence until 2025, with completion in 2030. See this website for details.
  • The Aigle – Leysin line is to be extended by 1140 m in tunnel from the site of the existing Leysin-Village station to a new station at Leysin-Belvédère to serve a ski lift, Télésiège Tête d’Aï. Intermediate stations will be built at Village-Versmont, replacing the current Leysin-Village and Versmont stations, and at Leysin-Centre. The rack line from Leysin-Village to the current terminus of Leysin-Grand Hôtel will be closed, to be replaced by an underground funicular which will run from Leysin Centre Sportif, via an interchange at Leysin-Centre, to Leysin-Grand Hôtel-Feydey. Construction is planned to commence in 2026, with services due to begin in 2030. See the map on the tpc website for details.

In June 2019 the Swiss Parliament approved funding for a programme of works to upgrade and modernise the railway network, for the period up to 2035. Projects include:

  • A rail line to Basel/Mulhouse airport
  • A new line between Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds, to avoid the reversal at Chambrelien
  • Completion of the southern section of the Zimmerberg tunnel, between Zürich and Zug
  • A new, more direct line between Zürich and Winterthur, including the Brüttener tunnel from Bassersdorf and Dietlikon to Winterthur

There will also be detailed planning of new lines between Basel SBB and Basel Bad Bf and at Luzern, to avoid reversal at the main station. The latter is expected to include a new line in a tunnel below the Vierwaldstättersee.

A 22 km metre-gauge link between Innertkirchen and Oberwald (the Grimselbahn), which would be mostly in tunnel including the long (8 km) Grimsel tunnel, but only single track, has been proposed. This would connect the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Zentralbahn metre gauge systems. The tunnels would be shared by power cables diverted from their existing route over mountains.

Older Changes

For details of older changes dating back to the year 2007 see Switzerland - Older General Information.

Special notes

Distinctions between main line railways, light railways and tramways are more difficult in Switzerland than perhaps any other country. For example, the main line of the Rhätische Bahn from St Moritz to Tirano has several sections of street running. In Chur, the first section of the Arosa line out from Chur station is street running dual track, but not wide enough to permit trains crossing. In addition there is 11 kV ac over the street.

The Matterhorn-Gotthard, Rhätische Bahn and Montreux Oberland Bernois are among the railways running "Panoramic", "Glacier Express" or other trains with special facilities, such as observation cars. A supplementary fare is usually charged and advance reservation compulsory or strongly recommended.

The European Train Control System, Level 2, incorporating in-cab signalling, is used on the Mattstetten (Bern) to Rothrist (Olten) high-speed line and through the Lötschberg, Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels. ETCS for the Gotthard base tunnel starts at Brunnen and also goes as far as Erstfeld on the old line. South of the base tunnel ETCS goes as far as Castione-Arbedo and is also in use from a point between Bellinzona and Giubiasco to San Antonino on the Locarno line and between Taverne and Lugano.

Lausanne (except the station itself) to Villeneuve also has ETCS as does the line from Lausanne to Brig between km 87.1 and 112.1 (including Sion and Sierre).

The only trackside signals on these sections are shunt signals and only trains fitted with ETCS L2 in-cab signalling can operate on them.

Tourist railways up mountains are sometimes of limited capacity, but subject to high demand, particularly at holiday periods and during the winter sports season. In such cases it may be necessary to wait some time before being able to board a train, so it is best to arrive at the railway as early in the day as possible. When booking a trip it is often necessary to reserve a seat on a specific train down the mountain. Once the railway’s capacity to bring people back down the mountain is fully booked, no more can ascend, unless they are staying at a summit hotel.

See also

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