Bike transport on International trains

Shuenixea56

Hello I can not take my bike on International trains in Switzerland, even when they are Swiss trains with plenty of bike places and I only want to travel in Switzerland. The SBB app says I can reserve a bike spot but I can not. I have tried at the ticket office, the app and online but no go. Does anyone know when this may be corrected. Because this is very frustrating. Many thanks for a reply Howard

RolandP

Hello Shuenixea56

Can you tell us for which route and date?

Honestly, I do not know an international train that offers a lot of bike spaces…

Kind regards,
Roland

Limeuhu12

I agree with you. To believe informations from SBB, reservations of a space is compulsory on most of Eurocity trains in Switzerland. I know that reservations of bycycle space at sbb.ch is plannned for april 2024. Meanwhile you can try to book at SBB Mobile APP. if is not working you can phone to SBB Kontaktcenter.

I know SBB Fahrplan is saying “ohne Gewähr” Please tell us, when your booking of byccle space was ok.

Kind regards

Christoph

Shuenixea56

Thank you Christoph and Roland for your replies. I have tried the booking centers and currently they can not do the task and the app will not touch the international trains either. Most international trains except the tgv will take bikes but you do need to be organised with reservations. It’s just currently SBB does not appear to want to take any bikes on any international trains even in Switzerland despite the schedule saying otherwise. For example last night I wanted to take the 21.59 train to Zurich to Basel and despite plenty of places… not possible. This morning I wanted the 7.34 train Zurich to Schaffhausen… not possible. Since I am going from Basel I now have to spend money on DB to get to Schaffhausen. I have a GA so that is also annoying.

Thank you again for your replies.

Howard

Limeuhu12

Good morning Shuenixea56

I apologise for your inconviences. As i told you it is possible to book bycycle space on IC trains in SBB Mobile App. I have booked one space for 9th februar IC 1180 Zürich HB - Schaffhausen. I think also for other IC & EC bycyle spaces are available in SBB Mobile APP.

Good to know, SBB Kontakcenter didn’t canceled my test booking for tomrow. So if you need a Space for tomorow I will send you information😉.

@RomanoS: The SBB Community reports daily about misunderstandings between customer requests and the sales process in the mobile app or on SBB.ch. Any ideas?

Kind regards

Christoph

Jimmy Deesh L

Hey

You can reserve a bike place for most international Trains when you travel domestic. It works on most RJ, IC, ICE and EC. Some international trains do not allow domestic bike transport such as the NJ for example. You will see a symbol in the app if it’s not allowed.

Now as for the reservation. It won’t show up automatically in the App. You need to add a bike under passangers. (see screenshot) Once you added a bike. the bike reservation will shop up. Be aware that spontaneous reservations may not be possible, as international trains often only have a very limited number of bicycle spaces and these are often already booked. This only works if you travel domestic. cross border reservations are currently not supported

I hope that helps you out.

Shuenixea56

Thank you Jimmy and Christoph!

Jimmy, I am familiar with the new feature on the app and for domestic I have not had a problem. Perhaps I have had issues with the international one because I have left it too late (giving a day’s notice? maybe?)

I contacted customer services and here is their reply which has to be wrong and my reply was somewhat questioning … here goes with their reply

“The reservation for bicycle is only possible on national Train. On International train like ICE, EC the reservation is not possible inside Switzerland.”

Makes no sense. Anyway thank you for your help.

Howard

RolandP

Hello Shuenixea56

On International train like ICE, EC the reservation is not possible inside Switzerland.

This was also my understanding, as priority for these very few bike spaces is given to international travellers.

Kind regards,
Roland

Shuenixea56

Hello Roland

Thank you for your reply, I don’t know what to think! I have had success with the same routes before, and as an experiment I tried booking an international train with the app for Monday and it works! With the app even. (route Zurich to Schaffhausen at 07.34). I don’t think it is a question of my competence this time. Sometimes with bikes things work and sometimes they don’t!?

Anyway I am in contact with customer services and I gave three examples of my frustrating experiences.

Kind Regards

Howard