This week, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) revealed the main new features for the 2027 timetable, which will come into effect next December. There will be several major adjustments to the service, particularly for international connections, night trains, and certain regional lines.
Switzerland – France: return of the Lausanne–Paris TGV trains
From 5 April 2027, The TGV Lyria offer between Lausanne and Paris via Geneva will see its three daily return services restored, offering greater flexibility for business travellers heading to the capital of the canton of Vaud.
Furthermore, a new TER (TER) service from SNCF between Geneva and Lyon will reduce journey times by 10 minutes from April 2027. This service will run once per day on weekdays in each direction and twice per day at weekends, facilitating connections to the south of France. It should also be noted that several trains on the L1, L5 and L6 lines of the Léman Express will be reinforced with a second carriage to increase capacity during peak hours.
Switzerland – Italy: more direct links
The rail service between Switzerland and Italy is strengthening with two direct trains per day now running between Zurich and Venice in each direction, compared to just one previously. One of the trains currently limited to Lugano will be extended to Venice.
However, the Basel–Lucerne–Milan train will now be limited to Lugano due to a lack of available rail capacity on the Italian side. Nevertheless, in the return direction, the direct Milan–Basel service via Lucerne will be maintained.
Another notable change: the daily Zurich–Florence service will now terminate in Bologna. During the summer season, however, it will be extended to Rimini to directly serve the Adriatic coast.
The Zurich–La Spezia train via Genoa becomes daily, while the seasonal extension to Livorno at weekends is being discontinued.
Switzerland – Germany: punctuality foremost
Between Zurich and Stuttgart, ICE trains will have additional buffer time on the German section to improve punctuality, which remains the main stumbling block for rail lines in Germany. SBB and Deutsche Bahn are also continuing their joint work to strengthen the reliability of this international link.
Nightjet: rise of the new generation
The new generation Nightjet trains will also be deployed on the Zurich-Amsterdam line from the timetable change. After Hamburg and Vienna, this third route will thus benefit from new carriages offering greater comfort and services for night travellers.
