https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Switzerland’s new train timetable for 2026 goes into effect on December 14th. From this day forward, buses and trams will also run on a new schedule, with public transport companies modifying/expanding their route network. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251205/the-public-transport-changes-to-expect-in-switzerlands-biggest-cities-in-2026 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:16:15 +0100 the-public-transport-changes-to-expect-in-switzerlands-biggest-cities-in-2026 Whether in the air, on rails, or on the lake, the new year will usher some changes to Switzerland’s domestic and international travel, as well as to its public transport. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251208/listed-all-the-big-travel-changes-to-expect-in-switzerland-in-2026 Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:13:06 +0100 listed-all-the-big-travel-changes-to-expect-in-switzerland-in-2026 The European Commission wants to make rail trips between major European cities faster and easier for international travellers, and has launched a new strategy with this aim in mind. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251127/how-rail-journeys-across-europe-could-be-made-faster-in-the-coming-years Thu, 27 Nov 2025 13:54:24 +0100 how-rail-journeys-across-europe-could-be-made-faster-in-the-coming-years When it comes to time spent on public transport or in traffic jams or the cost of a monthly travel pass, not all cities in Switzerland are equal. In some places commuters find it easier and cheaper to get to work. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251015/which-swiss-city-is-the-best-for-commuters-to-get-to-work Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:11:35 +0200 which-swiss-city-is-the-best-for-commuters-to-get-to-work Swiss people may have a reputation for honesty, but more than a million people were listed in the national register of public transport fare dodgers in Switzerland at the end of 2024 — the highest number since the records were created in 2019. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250319/what-is-switzerlands-notorious-fare-dodging-register-and-what-are-the-rules Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:07:57 +0100 what-is-switzerlands-notorious-fare-dodging-register-and-what-are-the-rules Twenty years after the US began sharing a database of those flying in and out of the country in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and other countries followed suit, Switzerland's parliament has also passed a law to this effect. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240516/why-is-switzerland-going-to-collect-a-database-of-flight-passengers Thu, 16 May 2024 17:51:59 +0200 why-is-switzerland-going-to-collect-a-database-of-flight-passengers EU states on Thursday cleared Bulgaria and Romania to become full members of the borderless Schengen zone from the start of next year. How will this historic decision impact Europe’s borderless travel zone and the EU economy? https://www.thelocal.ch/20241211/what-romania-and-bulgarias-full-schengen-membership-means-for-europe Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:07:36 +0100 what-romania-and-bulgarias-full-schengen-membership-means-for-europe Switzerland’s public transport system is punctual and efficient, but in some places it is faster (or slower) than in others. Here's why that is. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240815/which-swiss-cities-have-fastest-and-slowest-public-transport Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:19:38 +0200 which-swiss-cities-have-fastest-and-slowest-public-transport While you’re likely to encounter some of the most spectacular scenery as you drive through Switzerland, you may also experience an eye-watering fine if you’re unaware of the tolls that may apply. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240514/the-roads-and-tunnels-in-switzerland-where-drivers-need-to-pay-a-toll Tue, 14 May 2024 11:50:00 +0200 the-roads-and-tunnels-in-switzerland-where-drivers-need-to-pay-a-toll Whether it's opposing motorway expansion or insisting on more 30 km/h zones there are improvements that need to be made to transport in Switzerland, according to a prominent advocacy group. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240502/more-30km-h-zones-how-switzerland-can-improve-road-and-rail-transport Thu, 02 May 2024 19:46:25 +0200 more-30km-h-zones-how-switzerland-can-improve-road-and-rail-transport Uber's dominance of Zurich’s ride-hailing market is about to be threatened with the arrival of Bolt in the city. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240502/ride-hailing-service-bolt-to-challenge-uber-in-zurich Thu, 02 May 2024 14:40:25 +0200 ride-hailing-service-bolt-to-challenge-uber-in-zurich Chances are that you are regularly or occasionally using public transportation in your local community, but perhaps have not yet ridden on Switzerland's yellow PostBus. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240318/how-and-where-can-you-travel-on-an-iconic-swiss-postbus Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:18:50 +0100 how-and-where-can-you-travel-on-an-iconic-swiss-postbus As the increasing number of people in Switzerland travel on public transport without a ticket, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), along with other transport companies, want to target the dodgers by imposing heftier fines — especially on repeat offenders. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220328/how-much-will-i-be-fined-for-not-having-a-train-ticket-in-switzerland Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:43:52 +0200 how-much-will-i-be-fined-for-not-having-a-train-ticket-in-switzerland A plane flying from Zurich to Spain this weekend arrived without a single piece of luggage onboard, unbeknownst to the passengers, media reported Sunday, as the airline blamed ground staff shortages. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230910/swiss-plane-arrives-in-spain-without-a-single-suitcase-onboard Sun, 10 Sep 2023 16:37:18 +0200 swiss-plane-arrives-in-spain-without-a-single-suitcase-onboard Fifteen people were injured, including at least one seriously hurt, in two separate train derailments that happened in quick succession Friday in stormy wind in northwestern Switzerland, police said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230401/fifteen-hurt-as-two-swiss-trains-derail-in-storm Sat, 01 Apr 2023 09:52:15 +0200 fifteen-hurt-as-two-swiss-trains-derail-in-storm Public transport across Switzerland became unified with the SwissPass in 2020. Here’s what you need to know about the ticket and how to make the most of it. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200108/one-ticket-for-all-of-switzerland-your-guide-to-the-new-swisspass Wed, 08 Jan 2020 17:08:40 +0100 one-ticket-for-all-of-switzerland-your-guide-to-the-new-swisspass The heatwave sweeping across Switzerland has hit rail infrastructure hard, with cancellations and delays. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220721/how-the-heatwave-has-impacted-train-travel-in-switzerland Thu, 21 Jul 2022 13:27:06 +0200 how-the-heatwave-has-impacted-train-travel-in-switzerland Want to know how to avoid traffic in Switzerland? This handy map will help you out. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220531/what-is-switzerlands-traffic-calendar-and-how-can-it-help-me-save-time Tue, 31 May 2022 16:32:40 +0200 what-is-switzerlands-traffic-calendar-and-how-can-it-help-me-save-time Heading out on Switzerland's roads over Ascension and Pentecost? Here's where traffic might get a little tight. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220525/where-will-traffic-be-worst-in-switzerland-over-ascension-and-pentecost Wed, 25 May 2022 18:00:25 +0200 where-will-traffic-be-worst-in-switzerland-over-ascension-and-pentecost Making public transport free is illegal in some Swiss cantons, but not in others. Here's why. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220209/why-free-public-transport-is-illegal-in-some-swiss-cantons Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:25:52 +0100 why-free-public-transport-is-illegal-in-some-swiss-cantons