Bicycle transport on the train – Everything you need to know
Flexible travel by bike and combining train travel with cycling adventures? Sounds perfect – but how does bike transport on trains work in Switzerland and abroad? Here you will find an overview of reservations, costs, transport regulations and useful links.
Reservation & Availability
- Reservations are possible 3 months in advance . During construction work, this is sometimes only possible up to 2 weeks in advance .
- March 21st to October 31st : A reservation is mandatory on many InterCity lines (e.g. towards Ticino).
- International trains such as EuroCity, ICE, Railjet or EC heading to Germany/Austria require a reservation all year round.
- Identifiable in the timetable by a bicycle symbol . Without a reservation, a surcharge of CHF 10 will be charged on the train – but without any guarantee of a seat.
Costs & Tickets
- Reservation for bicycle parking: CHF 2 per ride.
- Day ticket for bicycle: CHF 15 – ideal for longer distances.
- Multi-day pass (6 days): CHF 90.
- Velo-Pass annual pass: CHF 260 – worth it for frequent riders.
- Short-distance journeys: A normal ticket can be cheaper here – the SBB app automatically shows the best option.
Transport regulations & self-loading
- 1 bicycle per person .
- Bicycles are loaded and unloaded by yourself , and often have to be hung vertically on hooks (see photo below).
- Folding bikes, children's bikes up to 6 years old, and scooters with small wheels (<12") are considered hand luggage and are free of charge.
- S-Pedelecs (with license plate) are not allowed on many international trains.
Use the SBB app smartly.
The free SBB Mobile app is your ideal companion for transporting bicycles:
- Reservation & ticket in one step: You can book your train ticket and the bike space at the same time – without detours.
- Automatic price comparison: The app automatically suggests the cheapest ticket option (day pass, single ticket, etc.).
- Timetables & bicycle symbols: The timetable clearly shows whether a reservation is required (bicycle symbol).
- Live information: You can see at a glance whether your train is on time or if there are any changes. To the SBB Mobile App
International connections
- For international connections (Italy, Germany, Austria, France), a reservation is almost always required .
- Tickets and reservations are available from the respective railway companies: bahn.de , oebb.at , trenitalia.it , sncf-connect.com .
- For certain trains (e.g. TGV Lyria), bicycle transport is only possible to a limited extent.
- We recommend Simpletrain for complex routes and night trains.
Regional differences
- Centralbahn (e.g. Lucerne–Interlaken): No reservation system, bicycle day ticket CHF 15, annual pass CHF 260.
- Rhätische Bahn (RhB): Self-loading, day ticket CHF 15, special offers such as the GraubündenPASS Bike from CHF 37.
Traveling with SBB
Practical tips
- Always plan enough time for loading and unloading .
- Bicycle trailers and special bicycles are only allowed to a limited extent.
- For flexible travel: Use a Tranzbag or folding bike – it counts as hand luggage and saves on reservation and costs.
- With the SBB app, you can buy the reservation and ticket for train and bike in one step.
Useful Links
