English Corner
Two swiss stations rank among europe’s best
The annual European Railway Station Index assesses 50 of Europe’s busiest stations based on punctuality, service and comfort. Criteria include waiting times, delays, ticket offers, services, catering, accessibility, Wi-Fi and onward connections. In 2025, Swiss stations continue to dominate the rankings.
Zurich Hauptbahnhof claims first place, while Bern takes third. The only station to break the Swiss dominance is Poland’s Wroclaw Glowny, which secures second place. Zurich remains the undisputed leader, while Bern improved its score but slipped one spot due to Wroclaw’s surge.
Why swiss stations lead the way
The study highlights Switzerland’s exceptionally short waiting times. In Zurich, passengers wait on average just one and a half minutes; in Bern, barely one minute. Both cities also impress with punctuality: only 4.06 percent of trains in Zurich and around 2 percent in Bern are delayed by more than five minutes. For comparison, nearly 40 percent of trains in Germany run late.
Still, Swiss stations are not flawless. Zurich scores lower on ticketing, offering fewer attractive discounts for students and groups. Regional links to southeastern Switzerland could also improve. The lack of a first-class lounge at Zurich’s main station is another weakness noted in the report.
Bern, while praised for reliability, falls short on station amenities. More shops and restaurants could make waiting for connections more enjoyable, according to the index.
European leaders and laggards
Beyond Switzerland and Poland, Berlin Hauptbahnhof and London Paddington complete the top five. At the other end of the spectrum, many German stations perform poorly, with Berlin Gesundbrunnen finishing last in Europe.
The top ten European stations 2025:
- Zurich Hauptbahnhof
- Wroclaw Glowny
- Bern Station
- Berlin Central Station
- London Paddington
- Utrecht Centraal
- London Bridge
- Vienna Central Station
- Paris Gare Montparnasse
- Amsterdam Centraal