Trains to Zurich Airport face 55 days of disruption from May 12
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By Jan de Boer
From May 12, travellers headed to Zurich Airport will face a 55-day wave of disruption due to ongoing engineering works. Here’s what you need to know about the changes and which services will be impacted.
Zurich Airport faces third wave of rail engineering works
From May 12 to July 6, rail services to, from and through Zurich Airport will be disrupted, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has confirmed. This is the third time trains to the airport have been modified due to construction work, the other disruptions having occurred in January and March 2025.
During the period, one of the tracks leading to the airport will be closed for renovations. This means that a number of long-distance rail services from Germany, eastern Switzerland and Basel will be diverted around the airport.
What services won't run to the airport from May 12?
During the work, all InterCity 5 (IC5) trains between St. Gallen/Rorschach and Lausanne via Zurich will be diverted and will therefore not stop at Zurich Airport. The same applies to all EuroCity services between Zurich and Munich.
The InterRegional 36 (IR36) train between Basel and Zurich Airport will only run as far as Zurich Oerlikon during the works. Travellers on the affected services have been advised to either switch trains in Zurich, Winterthur or Zurich Oerlikon, or take one of the many bus and tram services available.
SBB assured that despite the disruption, many rail services, most notably the S-Bahn, will still run to the airport. Passengers have been advised to check their journeys in advance using the SBB app, and to listen out for regular public announcements.
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more