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Swiss railways releases new time table: Here’s what changes in 2021

From additional seats on several lines to more frequent connections, this is what you can expect on Switzerland’s trains in 2021.

Published: 11 December 2020 13:42 CET
Swiss railways releases new time table: Here's what changes in 2021
New train timetable will go into effect on Sunday. Photo by AFP

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) are introducing their new schedule from December 13th.

The 2021 timetable will provide “a number of improvements for passenger services across the whole of Switzerland”, SBB announced.

For instance, the Intercity between the Geneva airport and St. Gallen, via Lausanne, Fribourg and Bern, will have 360 additional seats to accommodate more passengers.

And on the Simplon-Lausanne-Brig line, 12 double-decker trains — six more than currently — will be in circulation.

The new timetable will also be marked by the completion of the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) after 28 years of construction.

“This level-track rail route through the Alps will enable new service offers in freight and passenger services, both nationally and internationally”, SBB said.

READ MORE: MAP: Return of night trains across Europe comes a step closer

The final stage of the project is the completion of the Ceneri Tunnel in Ticino, which will shorten travel time between French and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland.

The Lausanne – Lugano trip will last 4:14, which is 18 minutes less that previously, while the Neuchâtel – Lugano route will be reduced from 4 hours to 3:32.

Internationally, connections between Geneva, Lausanne, and Zurich/Basel and Paris are set to increase from Sunday.

Trains between Switzerland and Italy will also continue, despite an earlier announcement that the two countries will suspend all rail services. 

From December 13th, two pairs of EuroCity trains will run on the Gotthard axis and two pairs on the Simplon axis.

• EC 313 dp. Zurich 07:10, arr. Milan 10:50 am
• EC 316 dp Milan 11:10, arr. Zurich 2:50 p.m.
• EC 34 dp Milan 13:05, arr. Geneva 5:21 p.m.
• EC 37 dp Geneva 07:39, arr. Milan 11:40 am
• EC 50 dp Milan 07:20, arr. Basel 11:32 am
• EC 57 dp Basel 12:28, arr. Milan 4:40 p.m.

The new timetable can be found here. 

A study released in November named the Swiss ‘European champions of train travel’. 

The study found that Swiss commuters used the rail 74 times in 2019, travelling a total of 2,505 kilometers.

In terms of distance traveled per inhabitant, Switzerland stands out clearly from other European countries.
 

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TRAIN

What are the rules on taking your bike on the train in France?

The French government is keen to encourage cycling and has published a decree relating to bike commuting, but travelling on a train with a bike can still be quite complicated.

Published: 15 June 2021 17:29 CEST
What are the rules on taking your bike on the train in France?
Photo: Jacques Demarthon/AFP

Can I commute with my bike? 

The French government is keen to encourage ‘multimode’ commuting – or people who cycle part of the way to work and take the train or bus for the rest.

On June 10th 2021, it published a decree which makes it mandatory for SNCF train stations and Paris’ RATP stations which have high numbers of passengers to provide secured parking spaces for bikes by 2024. This obligation concerns 1,133 train stations, which represent 37 percent of all train stations in France. 

How can I carry my bike on the train?

When it comes to taking a bike on longer train journeys, the rules vary depending on the type of train you are using. 

You can bring your bike, without having to disassemble it, on every TER (regional train) for free and without having to make a reservation, but keep in mind that space is limited. Since March 2021, every new trains or trains that are being renovated must have at least 8 spaces for bikes on board. 

Some TGVs (high-speed trains) and most Intercités (non high-speed national trains) offer a possibility to take your bike aboard, and in those where you can, you must make a reservation online or at the train station when you buy your ticket. 

THIS MAP allows you to check all the main long distance train lines that allow bikes on board.

When to take the train with your bike? 

In TERs, spaces for bikes are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be booked, therefore it’s better not to travel during rush hours. 

You’ll find special information about when and how to travel with your bike on TGVs and Intercités on the SNCF website. 

How to reserve a spot for your bike?

For TERs, making a reservation is not possible. 

For TGVs and Intercités, if you want to travel with an assembled bike, you must make a reservation for a dedicated spot when you buy your ticket on the website Oui.sncf . The price to add a bike on a TGV starts from 10€ and from 5€ on an Intercités. Adding a bike after you bought your ticket is not possible. 

Also, it’s important to note that you won’t be able to reserve a space for your bike when you  make a reservation from your phone on the app Oui.sncf. You can add a bike from your phone with the app Trainline. 

How to carry a disassembled bike?

You can carry your bike in every SNCF trains as long as it is disassembled in a bag which dimensions doesn’t exceed 90x120cm. In this case, it is considered hand luggage. 

Are trailers, tandems and cargo bikes allowed? 

Only regular bikes are accepted on trains. Carrying recumbent bikes, tricycles, tandems or trailers is not allowed. Only one train makes an exception during summer: the train Loire à Vélo, a train that goes from Nevers in the Center of France to the Atlantic Coast. 

Special info and tips if you want to travel by train with your bike this summer 

On the line Bretagne / TER : From June 7th to September 30th 2021, making a reservation for your bike to travel on a TER in the Bretagne région is mandatory. You will have to pay 3€ per bike and you can only reserve a ticket that includes a bike on the website. 

Travelling with the Train Loire à Vélo : This train that goes from the city of Orléans to Le Croisic on the Atlantic Coast is back on track. The ride is free and you don’t have to make a reservation for your bike. 

The Nouvelle-Aquitaine / La Vélodyssée service : In the Nouvelle Aquitaine region which includes Bordeaux and Biarritz, a special TER service with bikes allowed will be working from mid-July to August 2021. It will be free and without reservation, you can find some info on this map. 

On the line ViaRhôna / TER Lyon – Avignon : From July 3rd to September 19th, it will be possible to travel between the cities of Lyon and Avignon by train with your bike but only during week-ends and bank holidays. You must make a reservation and the price per bike will be of 3€.

La Véloscénie :  is a special itinerary for people who want to cycle between Paris and the Mont Saint-Michel and visit different places along the journey. From May to September the line from Paris to Pontorson Mont Saint-Michel embarks your bikes for free. 

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