Here, SBB connections abroad are improving

The new timetable will come into force in Switzerland on December 14, 2025. In addition to new connections and increased frequencies on the national rail network, it also brings some innovations to cross-border trains.

There's good news for rail travelers heading to Italy: Two additional trains per day will connect Zurich with Milano Centrale. The existing direct connection to Bologna will now be extended to Florence. The service will also be expanded in the summer: The direct train to Genoa will continue to La Spezia in Liguria during the warmer months.

Expansion is also planned for Germany. For the first time, there will be direct connections from Brig to Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg – without transfers. In addition, the number of direct trains between Germany and Chur will be increased to four daily connections. Modern Giruno trains will be used between Basel and Hamburg in the future.

Travelers from western Switzerland will benefit from an expanded direct connection to southern France: The train between Lausanne and Marseille, previously only available in July and August, will run from April to October, Thursdays to Mondays, starting in 2026. This will also provide better connections to Lyon in western Switzerland.

Mehr Komfort im Nachtzug

From the timetable change, the latest generation of Nightjet trains will be used on ÖBB's night trains to Hamburg, Amsterdam and Vienna, with more comfort and modern amenities.

Travelers should also be prepared for several restrictions, mainly due to upcoming infrastructure projects. For instance, the TGV Geneva–Lausanne–Paris route will face disruptions in 2026: trains will operate only between Geneva and Paris because of construction between Geneva and La Plaine. Additionally, work on the Basel–Basel St. Johann line will lead to changes and longer travel times for TGV services — including those to Zurich.

Rail passengers traveling toward Milan should expect service limitations in certain areas. Due to construction between Domodossola and Milan, one train per direction will be canceled on both the Basel–Bern–Milan and Geneva–Brig–Milan routes. In summer 2026, the Iselle–Domodossola route will also be closed. According to SBB, a replacement concept for the EuroCity (EC) trains is under development.

The connection from Hamburg and Hanover to Zurich and Chur will also be significantly impacted. Due to construction work in the Rastatt and Weil am Rhein areas, these trains will terminate in Basel starting in December and will not continue to Zurich and Chur for an entire year.