Ahead of the new timetable change in December, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has revealed all the major changes that will be made at the end of the year. Along with new international routes, the company has promised the largest rail expansion northwestern Switzerland has seen in 20 years.
Though we will have to wait until May 23 to see the full timetable, on May 21, SBB revealed all of the most important ways public transport in Switzerland will change when they switch over to the new timetable on December 14, 2025. The new schedule is set to dramatically expand train services in and around Basel, and create more leisure routes for travellers.
Here are the most important changes included in the 2026 timetable:
Starting with international rail services, SBB has confirmed that two additional trains will run between Zurich and Milan every day. The direct train between the Swiss city and Bologna will run to Florence for the first time, while the summertime service to Genoa will be extended to La Spezia.
Between Switzerland and Germany, for the first time ever there will be a direct German long-distance train service to Brig. Deutsche Bahn ICE connections between Frankfurt and Chur via Basel and Zurich will also be doubled to run four times a day.
Finally, 2026 will see a new expansion of the popular seasonal route between Lausanne, Geneva and Marseille. The direct TGV train will now run from April to October, from Thursdays to Mondays. The number of regional trains between Geneva and Lyon will also be increased.
Domestically, the most extensive changes will come in northwestern Switzerland. In what is the largest expansion seen in the region in 20 years, SBB will run S-Bahn trains between Liestal and Basel SBB every 15 minutes. This is thanks to new upgrades to the line, which are now up and running.
In addition, fast long-distance trains will operate every half-hour between Basel and Biel/Bienne. In good news for the people of Jura, the InterCity 51 (IC51) between Basel and Biel/Bienne via Delémont and Moutier will once again run as far as Lausanne via Neuchâtel and Yverdon-les-Bains.
To help cater to rising demand from tourists, commuters and holidaymakers, the IC3 will run every half-hour on weekdays between Zurich and Chur via Sargans and Landquart. EuroCity services between German-speaking Switzerland and Chiasso will be expanded, and the IC2 will be extended to run past Lugano to Chiasso. This means the border town will receive a fast train service every hour.
SBB has also confirmed that an additional IC train will stop in Bern Wankdorf every afternoon, speeding up journeys for commuters. The InterRegional 35 train between Bern and Chur will make a stop in Flums, giving greater access to the Sarganserland region.
In addition, on the weekends, two S-15 trains will run beyond Rapperswil to Chur, returning as far as Niederwenigen in the evening. Finally, an additional train will also run every day, connecting Geneva Airport with Bern, Zurich and Chur.
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