New train timetable Switzerland from Dec 12, 2021
A traveler started the thread to share updates about the new SBB train timetable that begins on December 12. They highlighted several important changes to national and international train connections, especially for those planning winter trips. This includes new direct routes, frequency changes, and a few minor adjustments to existing services.
- Take note of the new direct IC train connections between Zurich and Chur on Sundays during winter sports season, running every 30 minutes.
- The new cantonal railway station in Altdorf offers quicker connections to Zurich and Ticino, but it's a bit far from the village center.
- If you're visiting Suisse Romande, you'll find new direct services between Romont and Neuchatel, and Lausanne to Valle de Joux, perfect for exploring less-visited spots.
AI-generated summary-
Hello travelers,
From Sunday December 12 2021 the new SBB timetable will apply.
Below are some of the changes in national train connections:
- There will be direct IC connections between Zurich and Chur on Sundays between 2 pm and 8 pm during the winter sports season (between Christmas and Easter).
- There will be a direct connection by regional trains between Bern and Chur via Burgdorf, Zurich and Ziegelbrücke: the “Aare Linth” line.
- The route Geneva Airport-Zurich-St. Gallen will be extended to Rorschach for most IC trains.
- The new cantonal railway station in Altdorf (Uri, Central Switzerland) will provide quicker, direct connections to Zurich and Ticino.
These are some of the changes in international train connections:
- Traveling times between Zurich and Munich (Germany) will gradually be reduced by half an hour: from about 4h00 to about 3h30.
- An additional EC train will be available daily between Basel-Bern-Brig-Milano (Italy) in both directions.
- A new Nightjet train with sleeping cars will run daily between Zurich, Basel, Cologne-Duisburg (Germany) and Amsterdam (the Netherlands) in both directions.
A full overview, including planned maintenance works, can be found at https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable/online-timetable/timetable-change.html.
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Some of this information needs a lot more context added:
There will be direct IC connections between Zurich and Chur on Sundays between 2 pm and 8 pm during the winter sports season (between Christmas and Easter).
Clarification: there is little new here: all it means is that there will be IC trains every 30 mins at certain times, rather than every 1 hour.
There will be a direct connection by regional trains between Bern and Chur via Burgdorf, Zurich and Ziegelbrücke: the “Aare Linth” line.
additional Info: This is the third of the ‘trilogy’ of new train services ‘won’ by SOB railway from SBB. The trains will be the same semi-panoramic vehicles as used on the Voralpen Express and Treno Gottardo Gotthard regional trains
The route Geneva Airport-Zurich-St. Gallen will be extended to Rorschach for most IC trains.
Info: this is a rather minor development , and returns the route to the state it was in the 1970s!
The new cantonal railway station in Altdorf (Uri, Central Switzerland) will provide quicker, direct connections to Zurich and Ticino.
More detail/context: Altdorf has always been a station. It has been gradually rebuilt in recent years as an add on to the construction of the Gotthard base tunnel which starts very close by. The new service comprises an additional calling stop on the 2-hourly route IC2 whose calling pattern will now be: Zurich – Zug – Arth Goldau – Altdorf – Bellinzona – Lugano . Warning to tourists: Altdorf station is some distance from the village (home of William Tell) The ‘promotion’ of Altdorf amounts to a ‘relegation’ in the importance of Fluelen station
Slightly ‘hidden’ from the casual observer due to the Swiss language/cultural divide are: Additional changes in Suisse Romande (French speaking Switzerland :
Of potential interest:
Fusion of two local services into one, giving a direct service without change between Romont (a much underrated citadel town) and Neuchatel (lakeside city of note also less visited than some places often mention on this forum!)
Direct trains Lausanne – Valle de Joux (The Vallee de Joux is a picturesque east – west valley with lake in the Jura mountains) thanks to a rebuild of the station at Le Day
More double deck trains on the Geneva – Brig route
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