Switzerland By Train (2024)

Map with main train connections in Switzerland

There are a number of train types in Switzerland ready to transport you across the country, and to and from other European countries by day and night. Switzerland's national railway company is theSBB(Schweizerische BundesBahn). Use theEurail train timetableorSBB timetableto check times for trains in Switzerland.

Regional trains in Switzerland

The main rail network in Switzerland is made up of the following regional and intercity trains:

• RegioExpresstrains link regional destinations with larger Swiss cities.

• Regiotrains connect local towns.

• InterCitytrains link major Swiss cities like Basel and Geneva.

• InterRegiotrains connect Zurich and Geneva with cities across the whole of Switzerland. These trains make more stops than InterCity trains.

• S-Bahn(suburban trains) is a network of trains that operate within most big cities.
  • Zurich:Your Interrail Pass is valid for the S-bahn of Zurichexcept lines S4, S10 and S18.
  • See ourTimetablefor more details about availability.

Click hereto download a more detailed mapof the Swiss train network(2 MB)

Travel tip:

There's an international regional train connection between Chiasso and Milan (Italy). This connection is a great option if you want to avoidreservation fees.

On theEurail timetableRegioExpress trains are listed as "RE", and Regio trains as "R". InterCity trains are listed as "IC", and InterRegio trains as "IR". Regional and Intercity trains do not require seat reservations. Reservations are however recommended for Intercity trains during high season (May-September) and public holidays.

High-speed trains in Switzerland

International high-speed trains in Switzerland

These high-speed trains operate to and from Switzerland:

• ICEconnects Switzerland with cities in Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Basel – Frankfurt – Cologne – Hamburg
  • Basel – Stuttgart – Munich
  • Basel – Frankfurt – Cologne – Amsterdam
    • Reservations are compulsory during summer season (June 17th till August 18th)
    • Basel - Amsterdam will only run till Düsseldorf between May 27th and September 12th.
  • Interlaken - Basel – Frankfurt – Berlin
  • Zürich - Basel – Frankfurt – Hannover – Hamburg - Kiel
• Railjet (RJX)connects Zurich with cities in Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
  • Zürich – Salzburg – Vienna – Bratislava/Budapest
• EuroCity (EC)connects Zurich, Basel and Geneva to cities in Italy, Austria, Czechia and Germany.
  • Zürich – Innsbruck – Graz
  • Interlaken/Zürich – Basel – Cologne – Hamburg
  • Zürich – Milan – Genova/Bologna/Verona/Venezia
  • Geneva – Lausanne – Milan
  • Basel – Bern/Luzern – Milan
  • Zürich – Frankfurt – Dresden – Prague (Overnight)
• InterCity (IC)connects Zurich to cities in Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Zürich – Stuttgart
  • Zürich – Frankfurt – Hamburg (overnight)
  • Zürich – Frankfurt – Amsterdam (overnight)
  • Zürich – Frankfurt – Berlin (overnight)
• EuroCityExpress (ECE)connects Zurich to cities in Germany and Italy.
  • Frankfurt – Basel – Milan
  • Zürich - Munich
• TGVconnects Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Lausanne to Paris (France).
  • Zürich – Basel – Paris
  • Lausanne - Geneva – Paris
  • Lausanne – Dijon – Paris
  • Geneva – Lyon – Marseille (Only 01 July till 27 August)

Domestic high-speed trains in Switzerland

Domestic high-speed Swiss trains are calledInterCity Neigezug (ICN). ICN trains transport passengers quickly and in comfort from one side of the country to the other.

Night trains in and between Switzerland

International night trains

The following night trains connect Switzerland with Austria, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Czechia, Slovenia, and the Netherlands:

• ÖBB Nightjet:
  Zurich – Basel– Hamburg

  Zurich – Basel – Düsseldorf– Amsterdam

  Zurich – Basel– Berlin

  Zurich– Linz – Vienna

• EuroNight:
  Zurich – Graz

  Zurich – Vienna – Budapest

  Zurich – Innsbruck – Prague

  Zurich – Basel – Dresden – Prague

  Zurich – Villach – Ljubljana – Zagreb

Scenic train routes in Switzerland

Switzerland is famous for its beautiful scenic landscapes. The following scenic train routes offer special conditions for Eurail pass holders:

• Bernina Express:Chur – Lugano via Tirano (Italy)

• Chocolate train: Montreux – Broc-Chocolat

• Centovalli Railway: Locarno (Switzerland) – Domodossola (Italy)

• Golden Pass: Luzern – Interlaken – Montreux

• Glacier Express: Davos/St. Moritz – Zermatt
• Jungfrau Railways: Interlaken – Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen – Jungfraujoch

Click hereto download a more detailed mapof the Swiss train network with all trains included(2 MB)

Private railway companies in Switzerland

The Swiss railway network is operated not only by the SBB, there are a lot of private railway companies as well. Some of these companies are included in your Eurail Pass while other companies offer discounted travel.

Click hereto download a more detailed mapof the Swiss train network with all trains included(2 MB).