[INFO] Certain passenger trains are now passing through the Gotthard Base Tunnel again: Overview
Update 28 September 2023, 08.00 a.m.
Here is a summary from the latest SBB communications. I translated the information from German to English. You can read the information in full here (German / French / Italian language only):
In brief:
- From Friday, 29 September 2023, certain passenger trains are now passing through the Gotthard Base Tunnel again: there’s one train heading south on Friday and one heading north on Sunday.
- During the next three autumn peak weekends until 15 October (holiday season in German-speaking Switzerland), two additional southbound connections on Saturday and one northbound connection on Sunday will be added. This will increase the seating capacity and the travel time gain will be 15 to 30 minutes.
- SBB strongly recommends that passengers make seat reservations on these trains.
From 29 September 2023 until the timetable change on 10 December 2023, one train each on Friday evening from Zurich to Lugano and one on Sunday evening from Locarno to Zurich will again travel through the Gotthard Base Tunnel. In addition, during the autumn holidays in German-speaking Switzerland, which last until 15 October 2023, there will be two trains from Zurich to Bellinzona on Saturday morning and one from Lugano to Zurich on Sunday afternoon.
The travel route is shown in the SBB Mobile app and online by clicking on the connection in the journey info.
As the trains run through the tunnel at reduced speed, the journey time will be reduced by only 15 to 30 minutes compared to the panoramic route. SBB strongly recommends that passengers on these trains reserve a seat. This will be possible from 6 October 2023. For safety reasons, overcrowded trains cannot travel through the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Seats can already be reserved now on all trains running through the panorama route from 29 September 2023.
All trains running through the Gotthard Base Tunnel are listed in the online timetable:
- Zurich HB dep 7.42 a.m, Arth-Goldau dep 8.43 a.m, Bellinzona arr 10.02 a.m
- Zurich HB dep 9.45 a.m, Arth-Goldau dep 10.43 a.m, Bellinzona arr 12.02 p.m.
In addition, the following train on Sunday:
- Lugano dep 5.07 p.m., Bellinzona dep 5.24 p.m., Altdorf arr 6.28 p.m., Arth-Goldau arr 6.50 p.m., Zug arr 7.18 p.m., Zurich HB arr 7.45 p.m.
Until the timetable change on 10 Dec 2023, the following trains will run through the Gotthard Base Tunnel:
- On Fridays:
- Zurich HB dep 5.33 p.m., Zug dep 6.00 p.m., Arth-Goldau dep 6.18 p.m., Bellinzona arr 7.42 p.m., Lugano arr 7.58 p.m.
- On Sundays (except 29 October 2023)
- Locarno dep 5.50 p.m., Bellinzona dep 6.23 p.m, Lucerne arr 8.10 p.m
- 29 October 2023
- Lugano dep 6.07 p.m., Bellinzona dep 6.23 p.m., Lucerne arr 8.10 p.m.
International trains
→ All international through trains will continue to run via the Gotthard panorama route and not through the Gotthard base tunnel.
Questions
→ If you have any questions, we at the SBB Community will be happy to help. Likewise, the SBB Contact Center can be contacted at any time for questions or seat reservations: +41 51 225 78 56, 7×24h, waiting times may occur.
No guarantee that the information in this article is complete. Subject to change without notice.