SBB catches InterCity passengers off guard with undercover ticket checks

The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has introduced a new ticket-inspecting practice which has caught public transport passengers off guard.

Plainclothes ticket inspections expand to Swiss InterCity trains

On a Swiss InterCity (IC) 5 train travelling from St.Gallen to Zurich, SBB ticket inspectors “dressed in summer clothes” and “surprised passengers” by asking to see their tickets. While plainclothes ticket inspectors operating “undercover” is not new to Switzerland, it is the first time the tactic has been seen on a long-haul train, reports 20 Minuten.

“They looked like any other person on the train. But they had a large backpack,” said a 20 Minuten reporter. Passengers were made aware that they were official SBB ticket inspectors when they showed their ID card.

SBB media spokesperson Reto Schärli explained that the national rail operator has been deploying additional staff on some trains to occasionally carry out plain-clothes ticket inspections (Zivile Stichproben). 

If caught travelling without a ticket in Switzerland, you will face a fine for fare evasion starting at around 75 Swiss francs. SBB fines vary depending on whether your ticket is partially valid (e.g., wrong travel class, zone or forgetting your Half-Fare Travelcard) or completely invalid, and if you have previously been caught travelling without a ticket.

How to verify plainclothes SBB inspectors

Plainclothes ticket officer checks can make some people uneasy: "I was on the regional train from Lausanne to Vallorbe (VD) when suddenly three people in plainclothes started checking passengers' tickets. They did show identification, but it all happened so fast. Everyone was surprised. I thought it was a scam," explained a passenger. 

If unsure about whether someone not wearing a uniform is an SBB employee, ask to see their official SBB photo ID badge (Ausweis) before handing over your details or Swisspass.

Consumer groups call for leniency over strict SBB fines

Consumer protection groups in Switzerland (Konsumentenschutz) recently called on SBB to be more lenient to travellers who, for example, may have bought a ticket online just a few seconds too late. 

One passenger explained that they received a fine while “standing on the bus with the doors still open”, even though he had just activated EasyRide on the SBB Mobile app, reports Nau. Another traveller tried to approach a ticket inspector to explain that their internet wasn’t working and they couldn’t buy a ticket, but “she was immediately issued a fine”. 

"Using public transport without paying is not possible. But a little more discretion and goodwill on the part of SBB would be appropriate,” said the Consumer Protection Group. In response, an SBB spokesperson assured travellers that “goodwill is part of SBB’s practice”, but that staff are often unable to investigate personal circumstances on site.