1,1 million people caught without a ticket in 2025 in Switzerland

Alliance SwissPass has reported an increase in the number of people caught using public transport without a valid ticket or with only a partially valid ticket. In 2025, over 1,1 million people were found to be dodging fares.

Increase in people taking Swiss public transport without a ticket

Public transport can be quite expensive in Switzerland, particularly if you don’t have a Swiss Half Fare card that gets you a discount on tickets. 

Alliance SwissPass, the organisation responsible for public transport tickets in Switzerland, has reported an increase in the number of people taking Swiss public transport without a ticket.

The number of fare dodgers taking the risk and using public transport without a valid ticket increased from around 1 million in 2024 to over 1,1 million in 2025, reports Watson.

If you are caught travelling without a valid, or with a partially valid ticket, then you face a fine of between 90 and 160 Swiss francs, depending on whether it’s your first offence. If you are caught repeatedly, you may face criminal charges.

Fare dodgers cost the transport sector 200 million Swiss francs

An increase in fare dodgers has come at quite a hefty price for the country’s transport providers. Michaela Ruoss, media spokesperson at Alliance SwissPass, has estimated that “passengers without or with partially valid tickets are likely to cost the sector around 200 million Swiss francs every year”. 

Mara Zenhäusern, media spokesperson at the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), continues that “ultimately, this loss is borne by passengers with valid tickets and the general public.”

There are two main reasons for the increase in numbers, according to Ruoss. The number of public transport users continues to increase, now averaging around 1,4 million people a day according to the Federal Office of Transport (FOT). Secondly, public transport companies are conducting more frequent and efficient ticket checks.

Train ticket prices in Switzerland are known to be among the highest in Europe, although Alliance SwissPass announced last year that prices would not rise in 2026. The price of the Swiss Half Fare card, however, is set to rise from 120 to 150 Swiss francs per year.