Have you ever imagined discovering the magic of the Swiss Alps? Travelling through snow-covered landscapes in winter or flower-filled pastures in summer? Forgetting the daily grind and immersing yourself in the rhythm of the rails? What if you took the time to travel through the beauty of the countryside, by train, via an exceptional rail network.
Switzerland, home of the train
Switzerland’s rail network offers travellers a safe and affordable way to get to all the country’s major cities.
With 5,129 kilometres of lines of all types, Switzerland has the densest rail network in the world: with an average of 94 trains per day per line, or one train every 12 minutes in 24 hours, the country ranks ahead of Japan.
And there’s more: every year, the Swiss travel an average of almost 2,400 kilometres by train per head of population – a world record 1!
The Swiss Confederation is also very active internationally in terms of links with neighbouring European countries: France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
History of the train in Switzerland
The rail network and the railways in Switzerland are the result of almost 2 centuries of constant development.
When was the railway network built in Switzerland?
Switzerland played an important role in the development of railways in Europe, with the first railway line running between Zurich and Baden in 1847, which was also the country’s first steam train. This date marked the beginning of the railway network in Switzerland, which has continued to this day.
- Map of the development of the rail network in Switzerland from 1847 to 1908:
What are the main routes on the Swiss rail network?
There are currently several major routes across the country, based around two main axes.
West/East axes
The main route, which runs through the north of the country between Geneva and St Gallen, links the country’s major cities such as Lausanne, Berne, Olten, Zurich and Winterthur.
The other route follows the Rhône valley to the source of the river, passes through the Furka and joins the Rhine valley, between Lake Geneva, Sion, Chur and beyond.
North/South routes
One, to the east of the country, between Schaffahausen and Luganio, via Zurich.
The other, to the west, runs from the Rhône valley in Brig to Bern via Thun.
In addition to these main routes, numerous complementary lines criss-cross Switzerland. Thanks to these interconnected links, passengers can easily travel to different parts of the country and to neighbouring countries, using different types of train in Switzerland:
InterCity, InterRegio, ICE, Cisalpino, TGV, Eurocity…
What are the main railway tunnels in Switzerland?
Underground tunnels are very important for linking several towns located on steep slopes across the Alps and crossing the massif between valleys.
The main tunnels in Switzerland include the Simplon and St Gotthard tunnels and the Lötschberg and Furka tunnels.
Opened in 2016, the 57-kilometre Gotthard Base Tunnel is believed to be the longest in the world.
These works of art allow travellers to take full advantage of the natural beauty of the Alps while making short journeys between several towns and the various Alpine valleys.
Piggybacking is frequently used to transport lorries and private cars, for example to cross the Furka Pass by train through its tunnel.
What are the main rail network projects in Switzerland?
Since it was first built, the Swiss rail network has been constantly expanded to include innovative projects that improve the quality and comfort of journeys by enhancing daily services and tourism in the Alps.
Projects undertaken since the start of the new millennium include the RER Vaudois linking Lausanne and Geneva, the Zurich tramway and work toextend the railway line between Biel and Berne.
What’s more, the federal government is constantly investing in modern, faster and greener trains that offer direct links between the country’s main cities.
Ambitious investment programmes have been underway since 1987, notably the Rail 2000 project and the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA 2 ) launched at the end of the last century.
Rail infrastructure and services in Switzerland
What is the total length of the rail network in Switzerland?
Switzerland has a rail network comprising 5,129 kilometres of lines, including :
- 3,681 kilometres of standard gauge track (1,435 mm), over 98% electrified
- 1,312 km of 1 metre gauge track (1,000 mm), over 97% electrified
- Less than a hundred kilometres of 750 and 800 mm lines, more than 80% electrified
Linked to the network are more than 50 funicular 3 lines across the country, not counted as trains.
Today, Switzerland’s rail network is considered to be one of the best in the world, and certainly in Europe.
- Map of the contemporarySwiss rail network (2015) :
➡ Other maps of trains in Switzerland and the Swiss rail network
What are the main train services in Switzerland?
Swiss Federal Railways(SBB) offers a comprehensive service to its customers. Passengers benefit not only from a wide choice of train types 4, but also from additional services ranging from reduced-price tickets and special fares for families to free Wi-Fi in certain carriages and systematic access adapted to the needs of disabled people.
In addition, since 2016, a mobile application has been in place to facilitate the purchase of digitised tickets.
What types of train are used in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, there are several main categories of train:
- Regional trains: RegioExpress, Regio, InterCity, InterRégio and S-Bahn
- High-speed trains between major cities and Europe: ICN, ICE, RailJet, Eurocity, TGV
- Night trains to and from several European countries: OBB Nightjet, EuroNight, D-Train
- Tourist trains, often at altitude: Bernina Express, Chocolat, Centovalli, Glacier Express, Golden Pass, Gotthard Express…
What developments are improving Switzerland’s rail network?
Interval timetable, hydro-electric dam, tilting train, express network, ICNhigh-speed train…
The Swiss railways are constantly at the forefront of technology and sustainable development.
Sophisticated technical solutions have gradually been deployed to improve the flow of trains on the rails, while ecological initiatives such as the use of renewable energy sources are being developed.
The economy and impact of rail in Switzerland
What is the economic impact of the Swiss rail network?
The Swiss rail network plays a crucial role in the Swiss economy. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and other rail-related companies represent a significant proportion of the companies that provide jobs.
What’s more, according to an estimate published 5 by the Union des Transports Publics (UTP) , the rail network makes a major contribution to the country’s economic growth, providing a considerable number of direct and indirect jobs (around 207,000).
What are the challenges facing the Swiss network?
Although the performance of the Swiss rail system has improved over time thanks to the development of modern technologies and various maintenance programmes, the sector still faces a number of challenges.
- These 6 challenges include
- The backlog of work in relation to investments and programmes underway
- Infrastructure investment down on ambitious plans
- The need to further improve service reliability and punctuality
- Improving traffic flow at weekends.
What are the main advantages of taking the train in Switzerland?
The Swiss rail network offers reliable and safe transport for its users. Passengers can be sure that their train will arrive at its destination on time, wherever possible, thanks to the measures taken by the companies to guarantee optimum service quality.
Timetable, ticket, booking
Want to go to Switzerland and explore the country? Timetables and train tickets to and in Switzerland direct with :
Maps and links to Switzerland and travel:
➡ Map of stations and trains in the Rhône valley between the Alps and the Mediterranean
➡ Maps of Lake Geneva, between Switzerland and France
➡ LEX, the Léman Express train between France and Switzerland
➡ Cycling on the Rhône route in Switzerland and ViaRhôna to France
➡ National roads in Switzerland: network, motorways and electronic vignette