Rail travel Roadworks prolong train journeys from Switzerland to other countries
If you want to travel by train from Switzerland to other countries during the summer vacations, you will need patience. Various roadworks in northern Italy and southern Germany are leading to detour, delays and train cancellations.
16.07.2024, 12:19
SDA
Deutsche Bahn, among others, launched a major renovation program just at the start of the summer holidays - with consequences for international train services. The Mannheim-Frankfurt line, for example, has been closed since the beginning of the week until mid-December. As a result, Eurocity connections between Switzerland and Hamburg have been canceled. There will be detour and longer journey times, as the SBB writes on its website.
From August 3 to September 6, Intercity trains between Zurich and Stuttgart will also not be able to run continuously due to construction work. The line between Rastatt and Baden-Baden will also be closed from August 9 to 30. Rail replacement buses will be running.
Due to these and other closures on the German rail network, the direct day train from Switzerland to Amsterdam will be canceled from mid-July, according to SBB. From mid-July until the timetable change in December 2024, we recommend traveling via Paris.
Construction work is also underway in Italy
There will also be restrictions on journeys via Brig VS to northern Italy. According to SBB, the service on the Simplon axis between Domodossola and Milan will even be "reduced for several years". From Monday to Friday, there will be one train less per direction between Basel-Bern-Milan and Geneva-Brig-Milan.
The Iselle-Domodossola line will also be closed from August 9 to 30, 2024. Replacement buses will be running. Here, too, the journey time will be longer and there will be fewer seats available.
Due to the derailment of a freight train in 2023, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is also still only accessible to a limited extent.
