Rail transport VCS calls for direct international rail connections from Geneva

The Swiss Transport Club (VCS) is calling for direct rail connections from Geneva to London, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Brussels. These cities are among the ten most popular flight destinations from Geneva, although they could be reached by train in less than eight hours.

"The international rail offer is unsatisfactory, the number of connections has fallen and the remaining ones are overloaded," Caroline Marti, President of the Geneva section of the VCS, told the media on Tuesday.

According to the VCS, only three destinations have direct daily connections from Geneva: Paris, Milan and Venice. There is also Marseille, but only in summer. And while night trains run from Basel and Zurich to Northern and Eastern Europe, there are no longer any night connections from Geneva to Western and Southern Europe, although there is great potential there.

These findings are contained in a report addressed to the cantonal, federal and cross-border authorities. "To offer a real alternative to air or car travel, train connections must be practical, comfortable and easy. Switzerland must take a clear position so as not to be isolated from the European network," emphasized Matthieu Jotterand, Vice-President of VCS Geneva.

European harmonization

The report also points to solutions. The federal government could contribute to the financing of the Lyon conurbation rail bypass. This would make it possible to speed up this project, whose construction work has not yet been scheduled and which will connect Switzerland to the French high-speed lines.

Switzerland, which according to Jotterand "lacks a vision and coherence for international transport", could also improve its own network. The VCS is thinking in particular of restoring the direct connection between Geneva and Basel in order to reach the night trains to Germany.

Most direct connections abroad in Switzerland are available from Zurich main station. From here, rail travelers can reach destinations such as Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Prague or Budapest without changing trains. There are also direct train connections from Zurich to Zagreb, Milan or Venice. From Basel, direct international connections lead almost exclusively to the north.