Switzerland’s annual rail timetable change took effect on Sunday 14 December, bringing the biggest shake-up in a decade to international and regional services. The headline addition is a daily direct ICE from Brig in canton Valais to Mannheim, Frankfurt and Berlin—opening a no-change route from the Alps to the German capital and providing German ski tourists with effortless access to resorts such as Zermatt and Saas-Fee.
Other international gains include the restoration of the Geneva–Basel corridor via Lausanne, Biel and Delémont after completion of a new double-track section, plus hourly BLS services on the Basel–Biel line. French-speaking Switzerland benefits from extra Vaud RER capacity to meet booming commuter demand, while the Jura region sees through-running trains from Delémont to Bonfol for the first time.
While you’re planning those new cross-border connections, remember that up-to-date travel documents are essential. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) lets passengers quickly check visa rules, secure electronic authorizations, and even arrange passport renewals, so the expanded timetable can be enjoyed without bureaucratic delays.
![New Swiss Rail Timetable Adds Brig–Berlin Direct Train and More Cross-Border Links]()
Domestically, the Basel–Olten four-track upgrade enables quarter-hourly S-Bahn frequencies, a CHF 1 billion project hailed by SBB as its most significant north-west Swiss expansion in 20 years. Zurich’s tram network, however, faces a year-long rerouting as the historic Bahnhofquai stop undergoes disability-access renovations.
SBB and Zurich’s VBZ transport operator reported that the first weekday after the change passed smoothly, with only minor hiccups such as an early-morning IC1 cancellation on the Zurich–Bern corridor. Customer feedback has been largely positive, and rail-user group VCS says the benefits of controversial infrastructure projects are finally being felt.
For corporate mobility teams, the new timetable offers faster journeys between key business hubs and reduces the need for car travel on congested motorways. The Brig–Berlin link, in particular, should simplify German expatriate assignments in Valais and bolster winter-tourism talent flows. Travel managers are encouraged to update online booking tools and employee apps to capture the new routings and frequencies.
Other international gains include the restoration of the Geneva–Basel corridor via Lausanne, Biel and Delémont after completion of a new double-track section, plus hourly BLS services on the Basel–Biel line. French-speaking Switzerland benefits from extra Vaud RER capacity to meet booming commuter demand, while the Jura region sees through-running trains from Delémont to Bonfol for the first time.
While you’re planning those new cross-border connections, remember that up-to-date travel documents are essential. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) lets passengers quickly check visa rules, secure electronic authorizations, and even arrange passport renewals, so the expanded timetable can be enjoyed without bureaucratic delays.
Domestically, the Basel–Olten four-track upgrade enables quarter-hourly S-Bahn frequencies, a CHF 1 billion project hailed by SBB as its most significant north-west Swiss expansion in 20 years. Zurich’s tram network, however, faces a year-long rerouting as the historic Bahnhofquai stop undergoes disability-access renovations.
SBB and Zurich’s VBZ transport operator reported that the first weekday after the change passed smoothly, with only minor hiccups such as an early-morning IC1 cancellation on the Zurich–Bern corridor. Customer feedback has been largely positive, and rail-user group VCS says the benefits of controversial infrastructure projects are finally being felt.
For corporate mobility teams, the new timetable offers faster journeys between key business hubs and reduces the need for car travel on congested motorways. The Brig–Berlin link, in particular, should simplify German expatriate assignments in Valais and bolster winter-tourism talent flows. Travel managers are encouraged to update online booking tools and employee apps to capture the new routings and frequencies.
