Switzerland. Railway passion. All about the Swiss railway Swiss railways
As a child, I really loved German-made toy railroads, and was even the proud owner of several trains, plastic houses and a box with rails. The Germans produced large-scale replicas only of their German trains, so I got an idea about Western railways much earlier than I was able to see them with my own eyes. Train models were also popular in all sorts of toy stores and exhibitions. I remember one such model very well; it was located in the Transport pavilion at VDNKh. I still wonder what happened to it after the grandiose All-Union exhibition was turned into a grandiose flea market. In the place where that huge stand with this model stood in the 80s, in the 90s they sold Chinese radiotelephones. In general, Swiss Railways evoke in me a strong association with such layouts, especially when you look at them from somewhere above: the same neat bridges, doll houses and hills with miniature cows grazing on them. And almost the same, albeit more modern trains. Actually, the picture to attract attention speaks for itself.
The railway network in Switzerland is quite dense. The main operator is SBB, which has been operating since 1902, before railway construction and transportation was handled by private companies and cantonal administrations. SBB is not the only operator: there are several dozen more private companies that account for 13% of passenger traffic, and international routes operators are also working neighboring countries.
01. Display board at the train station in Geneva.
02. Regional train. It is noteworthy that such trains are driven by a locomotive located in front of the train, and the rear car has its own control cabin for moving in the opposite direction without moving the locomotive. A slightly unusual picture for a traveler from Russia, but completely common for most European railways.
03. Regional train (Regional Express) is an analogue of our Russian commuter express train, moving faster than regular commuter trains and making fewer stops along the route.
04. Intercity Express train model RABDe 500. Such trains stop only in large populated areas and reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. We have their analogues - Sapsan and Allegro. This train was developed with the participation of leading companies Alstom, Bombardier and SBB; Italian specialists from Pinifarina worked on the design. The train has a tilting body system to handle turns without reducing speed. I noticed that many trains have their own names, this one, for example, Graf Zeppelin.
05. Suburban electric train of the Flirt family of the Swiss company Stadler. Recently, a batch of such trains was released for the Belarusian Railways.
06. Luggage storage on the platform of Geneva Station.
07. Ticket validators.
08. Short platform for a couple of cars. Since nothing arrived here during the hour of my train-spotting, and the board remained empty, it was not possible to determine which trains were coming to it.
09. Another Intercity Express. Double decker. It also has TickiPark children's playgrounds.
10. And the same as for regional trains: an electric locomotive on one side, and a carriage with a control cabin on the other end of the train.
11. Left.
12. Intercity express from France of the Coradia Duplex family, operator SNCF. High-speed TGVs from Paris also stop here, but, unfortunately, I didn’t get them. Such trains arrive at a separate platform, on which even the remains of the zone barriers have been preserved border control, who worked here until the borders within Europe became transparent.
13. Here you can just see a piece of these barriers on the platform. You can also see an icon indicating that a TGV, which I never caught, stops on this platform. Someday I will go and film a series of reports about them).
14. Shot taken from the tower of the cathedral in Bern. Intercity Express on the bridge over the Ara.
15. ETR 610 “Cisalpino Due” of the Pendolino family. High-speed intercity train. I only got it once. Probably rare.
16. And here is one of the trains of the private railway company BOB (Berner Oberland Bahn). Filmed somewhere in the Interlaken area. This is one of the narrow gauge lines. Such railways not only connect small settlements, but are also a popular attraction for tourists, as they pass through the most picturesque areas of Switzerland.
17. Some of these lines are completely isolated from the rest, such as this line of the BLM company (Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren) running through the highlands between the small Alpine towns of Gruntschalp and Mürren in the Interlaken region. The line has a length of only 7 kilometers, on particularly steep slopes on such mountain roads Gear guides are installed between the rails, allowing trains to overcome them. Trains have a special mechanism for this. The shortest of these railways is only 4 kilometers long, while the longest is 384 kilometers. And the road with the steepest slopes is located on Mount Pilatus near Lucerne; it has gear guides along almost its entire length.
18. Installation at the train station in Lucerne.
19. On the left is the SBB train, on the right is the Intercity Express of the private company BLS. Lucerne train station.
20. One of the most common old locomotives of the Re 420 class.
21. Suburban.
22. Suburban company BLS, Flirt family.
23. Dead-end prism at the train station in Lucerne.
24. Train station in Lucerne: neither get poisoned by shawarma, nor buy a pirated CD, nor give change to a homeless person). Although no, shawarma can probably be found in a civilian station restaurant, only it is called kebab there.
25. Depot in Lucerne. A passenger's view from a train window.
26. Hey, wait, it’s a weekday evening, a commuter train, heading from the city to the region. Why is no one pushing and stopping me from renting the empty carriage? Where is the crowd? Where are all these office hamsters with gloomy faces, sleeping or sadly poking at their iPads, on the way from work to a distant sweet home on the outskirts of the region??)))
27. On the road from Lucerne to Brunnen, I was once again surprised at how small the world is, having accidentally chatted with a Russian woman, who, as it turned out, once lived in Moscow, almost nearby, on Sokol and also has a dacha in Povarovo, where she also my uncle's dacha is located!
28. Brunnen station, commuter train. In general, I only had to be a passenger on Swiss railways a couple of times, and not for long, which is probably not enough for a full description from this point of view. I can only say that the railways are convenient, the trains are fast and clean - European passengers are not carried away by their destruction and do not litter, unlike some Russian ones.
29. Due to several railway companies with different types trains and classes of their cars, as well as many destinations departing from central station Lucerne, I couldn’t immediately find the train I needed in the electronic ticket sales terminal.
30. Calm at Brunnen station. It’s getting dark, the ISO is rising, but such little things shouldn’t bother labor spotters).
31. And it became easier to shoot “in the wire”).
32. Suddenly a speedster flew by.
33. Suburban train to Lucerne.
34. In the evening, passenger traffic thinned out greatly, but freight traffic began to flow. They are operated in Switzerland by a subsidiary of SBB Cargo. And they actually run mainly at night, apparently so as not to interfere with high-speed trains. In Switzerland, there is also such an interesting service for transporting goods as the “Running Highway”. The country is located in the center of Europe, and there has always been increased freight traffic through it. Trucks occupied roads, puffed exhaust, got into accidents and got stuck on mountain passes, and at some point the government solved this problem by running special trains with platforms for trucks and containers. Thus, 70% of freight traffic now comes from railways.
In one of the following posts I will show the most Small town in a world in which there is a subway.
Do you love trains as much as I do?)
Travel to Switzerland, previous episodes.
Swiss railways are named SBB-CFF-FFS, which are three separate acronyms in German, French and Italian, translated as "Swiss State Railway Company". During the 19th century, there was no single company, and all sections of the country's railways were privately owned by various companies, which led to constant competition between them and the indiscriminate construction of new tracks throughout the country, sometimes even duplicating existing ones.
It was extremely difficult for the state to nationalize the railroads due to the strong antitrust requirements in the country, but in 1898, following the results of a popular vote, the state managed to take control of all companies, which led to the creation in 1902 of a national railway corporation under full state control. Since 1919, active electrification of the tracks began, and in 1999 the government again lost control over the railways, and the company was transformed into a joint stock company, but the shares are under strict state control.
But unlike other countries, a private railway company remained in Switzerland - Rhaetian Railway with a narrow gauge, connecting the most picturesque corners of the country - resort ski towns Davos and St. Moritz.
Switzerland is distinguished by a unique topography - a huge part of the country is cut by the high Alps, which has led to the fact that a large length of railway tracks have steep ascents and descents. For the safety of passengers and the technical possibility of lifting, a third one is laid between the main rails - with teeth, to which the gear wheels of the train cling, pushing it upward. Such a cogwheel railway is built on almost every steep slope in the country.
Contact details for Swiss Railways
Swiss Railways - official website, content is presented in the 4 most popular languages - English, German, French and Italian for ease of use by guests from anywhere in Europe. The site content includes information about the company, types of trains and classes of service, a set of bonus offers, train schedules, and also makes it possible to book the required tickets. The site does not have a Russian version.
Passengers of SBB-CFF-FFS can use any of the numerous contact numbers provided by the company to receive answers to all their questions:
- +41-848-44-66-88 – multi-line phone hotline, around the clock.
- By clicking on the link, customers can leave reviews, complaints and suggestions, leaving their contact information.
- +41-51-229-61-61 – telephone number of the internal police service in case of an emergency.
The company's headquarters is located in Bern at Hilfikerstrasse 1
3000 Bern 65.
Note! Swiss railways does not have representative offices in Russia, but anyone who speaks any of the 4 languages presented on the website can use all content services, book and buy a ticket from anywhere in the world where there is Internet access.
Train types and levels of service on Swiss Railways
Millions of tourists and citizens of the country use the developed railway network in Switzerland every year. SBB-CFF-FFS, having invested more than 1 billion Swiss francs in the development of the network, has in its depots a wide variety of trains that meet the needs of every passenger.
- Giruno is a new high-speed train with 405 seats, running from Basel to Zurich and south to Milan. The train has a WiFi zone, a conference room, a bistro restaurant, bathrooms, a quiet area, and space for luggage and bicycles.
- LD double-decker is a high-speed two-level train for domestic connections, routes run from Zurich to Geneva via Bern and Basel. The number of seats is 200, the amenities are the same as in Gurino, with the exception of the presence of a panoramic area that allows you to enjoy picturesque views during the trip.
- ETR-610 is a popular high-speed train with 430 seats, transporting passengers between the most major cities domestically and to Italy, has a separate family area with an equipped children's room, but does not have a quiet area.
- The ICN is a spacious high-speed train with almost 500 seats, including both a family and a quiet zone, operating within Switzerland.
- IC2000 is a standard train with two decks and 1st and 2nd class service, has a full range of amenities and a viewing upper level, including a restaurant on the second floor of one of the cars.
- Standard couch IV / Eurocity - has 60 seats in each carriage, transports passengers throughout the country, has a full range of services for passengers, like the Gurino train.
- Flirt – Suburban train serving passengers near Bern, Zurich and Geneva.
- Regio double-decker - two-level suburban train, operating between Bern and Zurich, has a capacity of 535 people and a minimal set of features for passenger comfort.
- Domino, GTW, DPZ, DTZ – commuter express trains for various destinations within the country.
Each high-speed train, as well as trains for transporting passengers across the country and abroad, have 2 classes of service - 2nd economy class and 1st business class, the differences between which are the comfort of the seats during the trip and the level of service and food for passengers . Each train, regardless of class, has high-quality finishes, an internal climate system and LCD displays in each car, which display travel information.
Many seats are equipped with sockets for the convenience of using mobile computers and charging phones, and each carriage is equipped with a place for attaching a wheelchair for the disabled.
Map of the main routes on Swiss Railways
Due to the presence of a developed railway scheme, as well as huge amount passengers - about 1 million per day, combined with the central location of the country on the European continent, SBB-CFF-FFS have a developed map of destinations both within the country and abroad:
- Along southern border countries with Italy and France.
- Between the main cities – Zurich, Lausanne, Bern, Basel and Geneva.
- International routes to Italy to Milan, to Austria to Innsbruck and Vaduz, to France to Annecy and Paris, and to Germany to Munich.
Traffic on each route is carried out at least once a day, which is very convenient for passengers when planning trips.
Ticket reservations and basic rates on Swiss Railways
The main tariffs offered by the company for the convenience of travelers:
- Individual - standard rate, booked in advance, refundable, with a service fee.
- Supersaver – the highest discounts for specific travel dates offered by the company.
- A one-day pass is convenient for tourists who plan to use the train several times in one day; it gives the opportunity to use the railway services an unlimited number of times for one price.
- First grade - best places and service during the trip.
- Group – save up to 20% when purchasing tickets one-time for a group of more than 10 people.
- Children - big discounts, up to 100%, for passengers with children, regardless of whether they occupy a seat or not.
Swiss Railways provide the opportunity to choose any method of booking and purchasing a train ticket for its customers:
- At ticket offices at stations or train stations throughout the country (ticket sale).
- In specialized terminals for automatic ticket sales (ticket vending machine).
- Online on the website via a link for visitors who speak one of the 4 proposed languages. Payment can be made by debit or credit card.
- Using the hotline telephone, the passenger will be connected to the ticket reservation department.
- By installing a special mobile application on a smartphone or tablet and further registering in it.
- IN travel companies around the world who can act as an agent for their clients.
Despite the fact that Switzerland is a very conservative country and so far all the old carriages from the century before last have not been disposed of, but continue to either be used on special routes or turned into museums on wheels.
Advanced technologies combined with huge annual investments are rapidly developing the SBB-CFF-FFS company, pushing it to a leading level among competitors from other European countries.
Helpful information about Swiss railways first hand: types of tickets, fares, calculations of how to get there in Switzerland,
description, instructions for booking Swiss tickets, how to buy tickets in Switzerland, tips, differences between trains
Switzerland is a damn beautiful country and at the same time damn expensive: if you can find a hotel in the suburbs of a Swiss city for less than 100 euros, then this can be considered a great success. It’s expensive to live here, it’s expensive to eat here, and, of course, it’s expensive to travel. The local transport system naturally works like clockwork and by the hour, but its use will ruin anyone: an hour-long voyage of about seven tens of kilometers will cost the passenger about seven hundred rubles!
Such prices will instantly ruin anyone, so the idea of saving a little on travel is quite fair. To do this, you can use the so-called “Supersaver ticket” system. These tickets have a relatively low price, but are valid only for specific trains. At the same time, their use allows you to reduce travel costs by almost half. Let's say, if the above-mentioned trip from Lausanne to Bern usually costs 31 Swiss francs, then a similar trip on a special offer will cost only 18.60 francs.
“Not all destinations are ready for use in this form, and every time you plan a voyage, it would be a good idea to find out exactly how things are at the moment.
To avoid such difficulties, you should use reusable travel cards, of which the Swiss have come up with a great variety. Alas, some of them are of little use for use, because, let’s say, a very reasonable “9 o’clock travelpass” ticket, which costs only 48 francs and allows you to travel throughout the country from 9 am to midnight on weekdays, is available only to the lucky owners of the “Half -Fare travelcard”, that is, for the most part local residents. It seems like it would be a good idea to buy such a card for yourself, but it costs 165, 300 and 400 francs for 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively - few people travel to the Alps with such enviable regularity to recoup such purchases.
The situation is similarly bad with the “1-day travelpass”, valid without a morning time limit. It costs 56.70 francs, but, again, you need the damned “Half-Fare travelcard”.
The only thing available in this regard is the “Happy Birthday travelpass” for 33 francs, but its use can only be done on the passenger’s birthday, which greatly limits flexibility.
Thus, those planning more or less active trips around Switzerland find themselves without an alternative to a set of “Swiss Pass” cards.
Such a ticket is valid for 4, 8, 15 or 22 days, and in the usual case these days are consecutive - you cannot split them separately. For such events there is a “Swiss Flexi Pass”, which gives the right to ride the entire transport system for 3, 4, 5 or 6 days during the month. Naturally, the more days you plan to travel, the higher the cost of the pass, and while a purchase for 4 days will cost 266 francs, an 8-day pass will cost 384 francs. Likewise, a split ticket for 3 days will cost 254 francs, its equivalent for 4 days will cost 308 francs, and so on.
It’s easy to see that the more days there are on a ticket, the cheaper each day costs on average. And here we must mention another way to save: those traveling in a group buy their tickets with a small discount, which is why for each of them the first option indicated will cost 226 and 326 francs, respectively, and the second 216 and 262 francs - no benefit at all, but no benefit...
There is also such a thing as a “Swiss Transfer Ticket”, which cannot be bought in Switzerland - only online or in other countries. Its essence is free travel from any border point of the Confederation to any point and back. In this case, the entry and exit points may not coincide, the main thing is that the trip in each direction is completed within a day and follows the shortest route. A similar pass costs 130 francs.
Now that we understand the capabilities of the Swiss transport system We have established that you can go directly to the process of purchasing tickets.
This process is quite simple and begins right from placing an order.
Switching to English language Using the "en" button at the very top, we must then enter the required points of departure and arrival, so that we can receive a schedule approximately in this form.
Since in Switzerland tickets are sold for a certain distance, it almost always makes sense to choose high-speed trains in order to arrive faster. Although, to be honest, usually the time difference between them and electric trains is not too great - the routes are a bit short...
Now that the train has been selected, there is a need to enter your data into the computer’s memory, specifically your first name, last name and date of birth.
After this stage is over, all that remains is to remember if you have a discount voucher at hand.
Typically, travelers do not have such a voucher at their disposal, so you can safely proceed to making a payment, for which you first enter your registration information - this is necessary for the banking system.
Well, finally, here it is, a page with payment information, after filling out the fields we can press the coveted “Purchase” button and buy a ticket.
The use of ticket machines in Switzerland is also quite accessible to anyone with a more or less tolerable command of at least some language.
This is what these machines look like.
The menu is arranged in several languages at once, we will choose the most popular - English.
We don’t need German at all in this case, so click on “English” in the lower right corner of the screen.
Thanks to this click, the world becomes clearer, and all possible options are at your fingertips.
By entering the departure and destination stations, we often get travel options - through a specific station or the shortest route there.
Of course, you need to choose a one-way trip or a round trip. In the latter case, a certain discount is provided.
The choice between second and first class is obvious.
The apparent complexity of the next screen is actually not worth a penny: these tricks are needed by those who have the above-mentioned “Half-Fare travelcar”, those who transport animals, and so on. We select 1/1 and the key in the right column that corresponds to the number of passengers.
Having made a simple choice, we move on to searching for the desired date.
By default, the date is always today - this must be kept in mind.
Changing the date is easier to do than sending two bytes - for this there is a special button "Later date" at the top right.
Finally, we have the price and along with it the payment options. It is worth noting that at Swiss border stations, machines also accept European coins and banknotes, giving change, however, in Swiss francs.
And to make it even more important, let’s consider the option when we need not a simple ticket, but some kind of travel card. To do this, you need to select the "Other tickets/offers" option, and then various offers will appear.
The travel cards discussed above are displayed here - as you can see, purchasing them will not be difficult.
In general, have a good trip to Switzerland...
Today we’ll talk about trains in Switzerland. I am a big fan of railways; for me, train stations, platforms and locomotives from childhood add up to the romance of travel, which no air transport can reproduce. Sometimes, because of this romance, I embark on strange adventures - for example, there was a case. But riding Swiss trains is a pleasure; it’s fast, beautiful and comfortable.
Do you like this locomotive? At the end of the post there are photos of different trains in the country.
And most importantly, it is almost always on schedule, unlike the neighboring one.
Regular readers of my blog will no doubt have noticed my ongoing morbid fascination with the Japanese railway system. I still believe that when it comes to rail transport, the Japanese are ahead of the rest, however, the Swiss are not so far behind them. The whole country is carefully covered with a web of railway tracks:
On this map the yellow lines indicate bus routes. And the railways are marked in red. Most of the trains in the country belong to the state-owned railway company with a beautiful name...
1. "SBB CFF FFS", nine consonant letters that can be found throughout the country. This is an abbreviation of the name meaning "Swiss Federal Railways" on three of the main state languages: German, French and Italian. Every three letters represent an abbreviation of the same words in a different language. (Fourth official language countries, Romansh, in official name is not used, otherwise “VFS” would have to be added to the inscriptions.)
2. All inscriptions on the system are also duplicated on three main languages, and also in English. So you don’t have to be afraid of not understanding something and missing something. Popular cities are also announced in English.
3. If Swiss trains have one drawback, it is that they are expensive. The ticket between is not so distant cities may cost about $50. Need to drive across the country? It will already be $100 or more.
4. Fortunately for us tourists, the country has a railway (and other) subscription called the Swiss Travel Pass. It is sold for 3, 4, 8 and 15 days, and covers travel on most transport throughout Switzerland. It can be purchased in first or second class. An adult second class ticket costs from 216 francs (for three days) to 458 (15 days). As you can see, it becomes more profitable if you take it for longer. The subscription can be purchased at railway ticket offices (including Zurich and Geneva airports), it entitles you to free travel on trains and city systems public transport.
5. With its help you can even ride on historic ferry boats on Lake Geneva!
In short, if you are planning a trip in which you will need to move around the country a lot, I advise you to purchase this pass. It’s not exactly cheap, but in the end it comes out cheaper than individual tickets. Plus, you will also save a lot of time, since you won’t have to stand in lines at the ticket office every time, and you can safely jump on the next train in the right direction.
All train routes are on Google Maps, so finding a train to the desired station is not difficult. Also, the SBB CFF FFS company has released separate applications for phones, which also allow you to plan a route (there are versions for Android and iOS).
An exception to this pass are various types of lifts to mountain peaks. They require a ticket purchase, but Swiss Travel Pass holders receive a 50% discount. , and gondolas are included in this category of transport.
6. The main thing is that if you bought a second class Travel Pass, do not get confused and not get into the first class by mistake. It is easy to distinguish between classes: on each carriage at the entrance there is a white number “1” or “2” written.
7. Like its German neighbors, most intercity trains in Switzerland are double-decker. The red and white color scheme is the corporate style for the squads belonging to SBB CFF FFS.
8. Luxurious first class seats are available on both the first and second floors. It looks like this:
9. I haven’t traveled in first class, and I don’t advise you to, without the appropriate ticket. And in general, it’s better not to ride here without a ticket - on almost every trip during the week I came across a ticket inspector who carefully checked all the tickets. They are actively fighting hares here.
10. However, second class is also very comfortable - there are comfortable soft seats, and there is an opportunity to work during long journeys.
11. The table folds out to make it convenient to sit down and stand up, but if desired, you can increase its area to place a computer.
13. In general, what is very pleasing about these trains is the variety of seat configurations. The Swiss understand that different passengers have different needs. Some people want to work quietly, some want to look out the window alone, and some want to communicate with a friendly group. There is a place for all these people on Swiss trains. Here, for example, is a part of the carriage suitable for large parties (this is also 2nd class):
I have more than once observed how such a place was occupied by cheerful groups of teenagers who, by the way, calmly travel from one city to another without adult supervision. These guys looked about 13 years old.
14. For younger passengers, the trains have special play areas. Parents can take their children there so that they don't get bored during long trips. This is good for everyone: the child has fun, parents don’t have to figure out what to do with them, and passengers in the rest of the carriages have peace of mind.
I admit, I saw this on trains several years ago, for some reason I didn’t come across these platform cars on this trip. I hope they haven't been canceled - it's a really cool thing.
15. And on trains (though not all) there are special vestibules for bicycles.
16. There are special mounts inside them where you can attach bikes, skis, etc.
17. Some people attach baby strollers here.
18. Well, what self-respecting European train can do without a dining car?
19. On double decker trains long distance, restaurants are usually upstairs.
20. Everything here is as it should be: tablecloths, normal chairs that can be pulled up, a waiter and a menu. They even pour it. You sit, eat, and Swiss beauties run by outside the window. However, more about them a little later.
21. There is a café on the lower floor for a less formal setting. You can grab a quick bite here (if you don't have to travel that far).
22. Let's take a little look at train stations and stations, because they also greatly influence the overall feeling of the railway system... Here main station Zurich is a huge building with high arches, under which the works of sculptors are hung. There are several more underground levels here.
23. The station is so huge that a market is sometimes held in its building! Farmers from all over Europe set up tents right at the station and bring their goods for sale.
24. For example, fruits and vegetables are sold by some granny from a newspaper, and a representative of the BioLand farming group. It all looked so appetizing that I couldn’t resist and bought fresh berries from him.
25. And this is the train station in Bern (yes, the same one where the drunken air of freedom played a cruel joke on Professor Pleischner). The gracefully curved canopies over the escalators to the platforms are made of wood. Looks very cool.
26. There are monitors on the platforms showing when and where the next train will be, where it will stop on the platform, and where the first and second class carriages will be located, and where the restaurant will be.
27. Yes, each station has a clock. Preferably on some tower. After all, after all, .
28. Even the smallest stops have a clock tower!
The correct time is a very important thing here, since the entire railway system of the country is debugged, like a precise clockwork. The train schedule is designed so that most transfers last no more than ten minutes (often five!) This takes into account which platform both trains arrive at, in order to give passengers a chance to make it at a normal (but not relaxed!) pace from one train to another. In rare cases, when there are minor delays, the train you want to transfer to will also wait a couple of minutes.
29. But for railway platforms, the company ordered a special watch model. This mechanism and design was developed by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker in 1944. Yes, you heard right! The war was going on all over the world, and the neutral Swiss were improving railway clocks. (On the other hand, why not, if in the USSR they could!) In short, Swiss railway watches have since become a national symbol and an example of good, laconic design. They are even exhibited in our New York at MoMA.
It turns out that this watch is so famous that Apple decided to steal it when it modernized the style of its iPhone firmware. In version 6 of iOS, released in 2012, the clock icon looked suspiciously like a Swiss design, right down to the circle at the end of the red second hand. The Swiss filed a lawsuit against the global manufacturer of gadgets, although the case did not go to court. Apple negotiated an agreement allowing them to use this design. The exact amount of the deal is unknown, but analysts believe that the Swiss received about 20 million francs for using the famous dial.
By the way, the feature of this watch is not only in appearance. The mechanism also has an interesting and non-obvious feature: at the end of each minute, the second hand is delayed slightly to synchronize with all the other clocks in the station. Thus, all the clocks at the station always show exactly the same time.
30. Yes, Swiss trains are comfortable and on time, but that's what we expect from all normal trains (unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way). But where they exceed expectations is in the beauty of the landscapes outside the window. Sitting in the carriage by the window, you can watch the green hills rush past you, high mountains, blue Lakes, and small towns with pointed churches.
31. Often the railway is laid right a couple of meters from the shore of the lake.
32. Then it seems that this entire magnificent landscape was created especially for you - for the passenger. For example, ride along Lake Geneva- a pleasure, especially on a clear day. On the far side you can see the French coast, with the Alps rising there.
33. Even if your train does not go along the very edge of the water, it is still beautiful. You will be pleased with the view of green fields and vineyards.
34. And if you turn into the mountains, you will be able to shoot snow-capped peaks directly from the window of your train.
Switzerland is rich in natural beauty, and railways are one of the best ways see it all. Where else is it so beautiful outside the carriage window? . But it's hard to pick a favorite here.
35. Let me show you a few different types trains that I encountered during a week of active use of Swiss railways. I'll start with the cutest thing - this handsome locomotive was already in the title photo, but it's no harm to show it again!
By the way, if anyone knows the model of this or other trains, write in the comments, I will add the information to the post. Otherwise, I’m a complete noob in this regard.
36. I have already shown you a double-decker long-distance train, but this is a more regional one that travels.
37. There are also very small trains, more like trams. They walk on narrow gauge tracks. This is exactly what we drove before.
38. By the way, not all trains in the country belong to the federal railway agency. There are also private lines. And if SBB CFF FFS cars are usually red and white, then private companies choose other colors for their liveries. For example, in the Bern area there are green BLS trains.
39. But I saw such dark blue trains near Lausanne.
40. But this blue and yellow composition lifted us up.
41. In general, on such private narrow-gauge lines leading to the mountains, you can see very nice trailers. Moreover, it is clear that many of them are quite old designs.
42. Apparently, private companies do not throw out all the obsolete cars, but leave a few on the rails as a museum. What if, why not here?
43. Look how lovely it is!
44. The biggest trick on Swiss trains is to sit by a window, either at the beginning or the end of the train. On turns you can take pictures not only beautiful landscape outside the window, but also the tail/head of your composition, which will harmonize perfectly with the surrounding greenery.
Honestly, I can’t imagine how anyone could not love trains. And if you love them and are not going to Japan yet, then Switzerland is best country, in order to ride them.
) – perhaps the most reliable and comfortable in the world. Trains between the main cities operate at intervals of at least every half hour. The fastest trains are IC, ICN, EC, IR, Schnellzug. They all differ little in speed. Local trains are designated R and RX; in the suburbs of large cities there are S-Bahn trains. There are no overnight domestic trains.
The price for all types of trains is standard; there are no additional payments for regular trains in domestic traffic. Simple single tickets are very expensive, a round-trip ticket gives a small discount of up to 10%:
The easiest way to save money is with the Swiss Pass "Swiss Travel Systems" (valid on all types of regular transport) or with the cheaper "EuroDomino Switzerland" ticket (valid only on the railway). The latter costs 85 euros for three days of unlimited travel, plus 10 euros for each additional day. You can buy up to 5 additional days in total. For young people under 26 years of age, prices are lower - 64 euros for the first three days, plus 8 euros for each additional one.
In addition to regular state railways, there are private railways, mainly mountain ones. The most powerful alternative system is the narrow-gauge Rhätische Bahn in the southeast of the country. Some mountain panoramic routes are not covered by passes (or their owners only receive a 25-50% discount there). The routes to the Jungfrau and Matterhorn peaks, as well as the Glacier Express route, are especially expensive. At the same time, a number of magnificent panoramic routes are free for travel pass holders - "Golden Pass", "Bernina Express", "Arosa Express", "William Tell Express", "Pre-Alpine Express", "Lotschberg Route" and others.
Fines for traveling without a ticket
Penalties for ticketless travel in Switzerland vary depending on the type of train and the type of violation.
It is prohibited to board regional trains (R, SN, S and some RE) without a ticket. Such trains are also marked with a special sign: a black “eye” on a yellow background. A passenger without a ticket will be required to pay a minimum of 80 CHF. A trip in a 1st class carriage with a 2nd class ticket is also classified by the conductor as a ticketless travel.
The personal data of a passenger caught without a ticket is recorded and stored for two years. The first time the fine is 80 CHF, the second time – 120 CHF, and subsequent times – 150 CHF.
On long-distance trains, tickets can be purchased from the conductor. This service costs an additional 5 CHF. If for some reason you cannot pay for a ticket while on the train, the conductor will issue an invoice, the amount of which will be equal to the cost of the ticket + a service fee of 30 CHF.
If the passenger has a valid ticket, but did not take it with him on the trip, the conductor issues a fine, which will be canceled if within 10 days the passenger presents his travel card and fills out a special Travel Without a Valid Ticket form at any railway ticket office in Switzerland. This service costs 5 CHF.
The following penalties are also provided:
Personal experience of travelers
Add a reviewAndrey | November 2009
Pavel Maksimov | August 2007
see also