SBB Summer Rail: New International Routes 2024
- Switzerland's national railway,SBB,is expanding its summer train travel schedule with new routes to popular destinations in france and Italy.
- For those seeking the sun in southern France, the TGV Lyria will offer direct service from Lausanne and Geneva to Avignon and Marseille between June 28 and Aug.24.
- While a direct train will operate daily from June 1 to Sept.
SBB ramps up its summer rail service with exciting new routes. Starting June 28,explore direct trains to Avignon and Marseille,perfect for a French getaway. Running from June 1 to September 28, travel between Zurich, genoa, and Sestri Levante. while expanding travel options, SBB alerts passengers to potential disruptions. Anticipate construction delays on Italian routes and plan for replacement buses on the Bern-Fribourg line from June 27 to August 25. News Directory 3 highlights these vital updates. despite these hurdles, SBB remains committed to boosting international train connections. Book your tickets, prepare for your journey, and stay informed.Discover what’s next for European rail travel this summer.
Switzerland’s SBB Adds Summer Train Routes Amidst Travel Disruptions
Updated May 28,2025
Switzerland’s national railway,SBB,is expanding its summer train travel schedule with new routes to popular destinations in france and Italy. However, travelers shoudl prepare for potential complications along the way.
For those seeking the sun in southern France, the TGV Lyria will offer direct service from Lausanne and Geneva to Avignon and Marseille between June 28 and Aug.24. SBB notes that these routes will supplement existing year-round services to Paris, Lyon, and Dijon. From Avignon and Marseille, travelers can easily connect to other destinations, such as Antibes, via local trains. Geneva also offers a route to Antibes via Lyon Part Dieu.
The journey to Italy may present more challenges. While a direct train will operate daily from June 1 to Sept. 28,connecting Zurich,Genoa,and Sestri Levante on the Italian Mediterranean coast,meaningful construction work on Italy’s rail infrastructure could cause disruptions. The Eurocity (EC) train from Zurich to Bologna will be suspended from June 1 to Sept. 28 due to roadwork. However, from June 8 to Sept. 28, the EC train will extend daily to Pisa, linking Genoa and Sestri Levante.
Further complicating matters, the simplon line between Domodossola and Milan will be closed between June 8 and July 27, and again from Aug. 31 to Sept. 12. During these closures, the section between the two cities will be inaccessible.
To mitigate the impact on travelers, SBB, in collaboration with Trenitalia, will operate replacement buses from Geneva to Martigny to Milan. SBB advises passengers to travel on weekdays when possible and to book seats in advance.
Other disruptions to anticipate this summer include the closure of the Bern–Fribourg line in Switzerland from June 27 to Aug. 25, with replacement bus service available. Additionally, buses will replace trains between Aesch and Laufen on the Basel-Biel/bienne line until the end of September. In Lombardy, interruptions between Camnago and Seregno on Aug. 16 and 17 will lead to the cancellation of EC trains between Chiasso and Milan on those days.
What’s next
Despite these challenges, SBB aims to expand its international train travel routes beyond neighboring countries, offering more options for European train travel.