Railways & Train Travel in Zürich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne & Zug

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Railways & Train Travel in Zürich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne & Zug

Swiss trains are run by the Swiss Federal Railway Network SBB/CFF/FFS (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, Chemins de Fer Fédéraux Suisses, Ferrovie Federali Svizzere). 

• Up-to-the-minute arrivals/departures timetable: Click here

General Information

SBB/CFF has a comprehensive website in English detailing all facilities, services and discounts to the regular train traveller. Information covered includes:

• Information for frequent travellers and commuters
• Online timetable (Fahrplan)
• Online tickets can be bought (proof of ID required on presentation of the ticket). It is a finable offence to travel without a ticket
• Dogs: all dogs may travel on Swiss trains but if over 30cm must have a half fare second-class ticket. Pets (including small dogs) under 30cm can travel for free as long as they are in a basket as they count as hand luggage. Season tickets are available for dogs
• Bicycles: if there is space in the carriage, a bike may be taken on a train, otherwise it can travel as unaccompanied luggage
• Disabled passengers: assistance available for boarding and alighting trains for people with restricted mobility. Special counters with amplifying equipment for the deaf and hard of hearing and the stations are marked with tactile warnings for the blind. Free travel passes available for carers. 

Railpasses

• Half-Fare Card allows half-price travel on trains, busses and lakeboats with the cards valid for one, two or three years. Other discounts also apply. Card can be bought online
• Z-Pass is a travel card that can be used on the Zürich transport network and the neighbouring regional transport networks. The card can be bought at most train stations
  • Tel: 0848 988 988
• The General Abonnement (GA) card allows unlimited travel on the SBB network and on private railways, trams, busses, and regional transport networks throughout Switzerland

Intercity & long distance trains

Intercity train transport generally costs less than internal flights

• Swiss Travel System: various discount packages for holidays, discounts and privilege cards
• Family car: some trains have a children's play area
• Families and children: tariffs reductions
• Quiet area compartments: personal stereos, mobile phones and talking are banned
• Business compartments: sockets for mobile phones and laptops (available on longer routes by advance reservation only)
• Fast Baggage: suitcases, luggage and winter sports equipment can be transported to the final Swiss destination 
• Station counters offer services including, currency exchange, sale of phone cards, currency transfer 
• Flight check-in at the train station for a flight from Geneva or Zurich up to 24 hours before take off
• Fly-Rail Baggage: luggage can be transported from any airport in the world directly to the final train station in Switzerland (Please note that advance check-in and baggage transfer services are not available for travellers for the USA)

Contact information

• SBB/CFF Travel agency 
  Tel: 051 226 62 07
  Information: 0900 300 300
  Open: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 18:30 and Saturday 09:00 to 12:00

Regional Transport Systems

Zürich

The Zürich transport system (Zürcher Verkehrsbetriebe - ZVV) includes 13 tramlines, 6 trolley bus lines, 18 urban network lines with motorised buses, 9 district bus lines, 1 cable railway (Rigiblick) and regional railways, the Zürich S-Bahn.

• ZVV Information - Tel: 0848 801 880
• For a map of the Zürich transport network: Click here
• For a list of ticket offices: Click here
• Lost and found Tel: 044 412 25 50
• ZVV website

Basel

The Basel transport system (Basel Verkehrs-Betriebe - BVB ) has 8 tramlines with 129 trams and 44 trailers. There are 12 bus lines with 44 double-length buses, 21 regular buses und 6 minibuses.

• Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe
  At: Claragraben 55, 4055 Basel
  Tel: 061 685 12 12
  Fax: 061 685 12 48
  e-mail 
  Website

The Regio-S-Bahn is the commuter rail network serving northwest Switzerland and Wiesental and even across the borders to Germany and France.

• Line S1 Frick/Laufenburg-Basel, main station-Mulhouse
• Line S3 Olten-Basel-Laufen-Delemont-Porrentruy
• Line S5 Weil am rhein-Lörrach-Steinen
• Line S6 Basel main station to Lörrach-Zell im Wiesental
• Line S9 Olten-Läufelfingen-Sisasch

The S-Bahn is jointly operated by the Swiss railway company SBB, the French rail company SNCF and the Germany rail company DB

• For an overview of the whole network: Click here
• For timetables information: Click here  
• For ticket information: Click here

Berne

The transport network in Berne (Bernmobil) operates three tram services, 19 bus and trolleybus services covering 120 kilometres.

• BERNMOBIL infocenter
  At: Bubenbergplatz 17, 3011 Berne
  Tel: 031 321 88 44
  Fax: 031 666 19 07
  Open: Monday to Friday 08:30-18:00
  e-mail
  Website

The S-Bahn Bern connects the suburbs of Berne with the central district. Trains leave the SBB main station in Berne.

• For route details and schedule times: Click here (in German)
• Single tickets, multiple ride passes, monthly or yearly passes are available. For more ticket information: Click here (in German)

Lucerne

The Lucerne transport system (Verkehrsbetrieb Luzern - vbl) has a network of busses serving the city and outskirts of Lucerne.

• Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern AG
  At: Tribschenstrasse 65, 6002 Lucerne
  Tel: 041 369 65 65
  Fax: 041 369 65 00

The Zentralbahn is the train system that connects Lucerne with the cantons of Nidwalden and Obwalden. The trains leave from Lucerne main station.

• For ticket information: Click here 
• 24 hour call centre - Tel: 0900 300 300
• Zentralbahn AG
  At: Stanserstrasse 2, Postfach 457, 6362 Stansstad
  Tel: 051 228 85 85
  Fax: 051 228 85 86
  Website

Zug

The Zug train network (Stadtbahn Zug) uses the railways of the SBB/CFF and offers two lines: Baar-Zug-Lucerne and Zug-Oberwil-Walchwil-Arth-Goldau-Erstfeld with 15 stops within the canton of Zug.

• Stadtbahn Zug
  Website 

Further Information

• See also AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Bus & Tram Services in Zürich, Basel, Berne, Lucerne & Zug

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