Switzerland: a railway paradise?

Published on November 6, 2025, modified yesterday

A missed connection, a train cancelled without warning, or a delay that turns a simple journey into a logistical marathon… If you travel by train often, you’ve probably experienced this (situations our German friends know particularly well).

Now imagine the opposite: a country where trains run to the minute, and where connections work like a perfectly timed choreography. This country exists — and it’s not on another continent. It’s right next to France. Welcome to Switzerland: a true European rail benchmark.

At HOURRAIL!, we asked ourselves a simple question: how did Switzerland become a global model for rail travel?

That’s exactly what we explain in this article. And if you'd like to experience this investigation in immersion, we invite you to watch our video report:

How Switzerland Became a Rail Powerhouse

A story shaped by geography

Switzerland became a federal state in 1848. At the time, the country looked more like a puzzle: 26 cantons, strong regional identities, and four official languages. Building national unity was a challenge, and the railway quickly appeared as the ideal tool.

But there was one major obstacle: the Alps. Creating a dense rail network in such a mountainous territory seemed almost impossible. Yet as early as 1847, the first line opened between Zurich and Baden : 23 symbolic but foundational kilometres.

Private companies built it, the State stabilised it

In the following decades, private investors — including foreign ones — got involved. The network expanded quickly, but sometimes chaotically, with profitability as the main priority. By the end of the 19th century, companies merged and strengthened… until the State gradually took control, creating the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF) in 1902.

Unlike other European countries, this nationalisation didn’t create a centralized monopoly. Dozens of regional rail companies continued operating, often funded by the cantons. This hybrid model became one of the foundations of Swiss rail success.

Working with the Alps

Swiss railway history wouldn’t be complete without major engineering achievements. The most iconic example: the Gotthard Tunnel, inaugurated in 1882, then the longest railway tunnel in the world. Today, its modern successor stretches 57 km : a European record and a symbol of perseverance.

The Four Secrets Behind Swiss Railway Success

1. A coordinated timetable built for seamless travel

In Switzerland, trains operate like a nationwide metro. A train departing at 14:04 will also leave at 15:04, 16:04, and so on. Connections are carefully synchronized. The result: less stress, fewer delays, and better predictability.

2. A near-mythical level of punctuality

Every day, around 93% of trains arrive on time. Punctuality is almost cultural: even the clocks in Swiss stations are designed to synchronize departures to the exact second.

3. A network designed for everyone (not only major cities)

Unlike other countries, Switzerland hasn’t closed hundreds of small rural lines. Here, cantons protect their regional networks because they ensure access to valleys and remote areas.

The result is one of the densest railway networks in the world — with a population heavily equipped with travel passes (Half-Fare Card, General Abonnement, Swiss Travel Pass, and more).

4. Massive investments — approved by voters

In Switzerland, major rail projects are decided through referendums. And often, the population votes yes, even when it means funding large infrastructure projects or taxing road freight to support rail freight transport.

The Alpine Initiative of 1994 is a perfect example: a collective decision to protect landscapes and prioritise rail over road.

A Dense, Useful, and Spectacular Network

The train as an experience

In Switzerland, taking the train isn’t just about getting from point A to point B — it’s a travel experience itself. Spiral tunnels, high-altitude viaducts, panoramic windows…

Among the most iconic trains:

The Glacier Express (nicknamed “the slowest express train in the world”),
The Bernina Express,
The GoldenPass Express with its automatic gauge-changing system,
The Jungfraubahn, climbing to 3,454 metres above sea level.

Each journey becomes a story.

A Model Influencing Its Neighbours

Today, Switzerland operates one of the most efficient railway systems in the world. In 2024, Transport & Environment ranked it second in Europe. Its model now inspires Italy, Austria, Japan, and even certain French routes (especially through timetable coordination).

In Summary

The Swiss model isn’t perfect: fares can seem expensive, infrastructure costs are high, and the system is complex. But it proves something essential: when rail is treated as a strategic public service, funded over decades and supported by citizens, it becomes a logical, popular, and widely used choice.

In Switzerland, the train is part of daily culture, so much so that regular commuters even have a nickname: die Pendler.

For the rest of Europe, this model remains both an inspiration and a challenge. And while others are still searching for the right formula, Switzerland continues moving forward… often one minute ahead.

To go further, don’t hesitate to watch our full video report filmed on-site with Tolt, and explore our additional articles on Swiss panoramic trains or our full travel guide to Switzerland!

Written by Sophie Renassia

Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).

Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.