Passengers to get compensation for train delays, cancellations
The federal government on Wednesday adopted legal provisions that allow travellers to seek partial to full refunds for disrupted train and bus journeys in the country.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/gw
Starting in 2021, delays on public transport lasting more than one hour will be subject to at least a partial refund of the price of a ticket. The minimum refund is set at CHF5 ($5). Currently transport companies are not obliged to compensate passengers for extended delays.
Under the new provisions, passengers who cannot complete their journey because of a delay or cancellation will have several options, including cancelling their trip before departure and receiving a full refund.
Depending on the circumstances, the compensation will range from a minimum of 25% of the value of the ticket for a one-hour delay to a minimum 50% for a delay of two hours. Refunds are to be paid out within 30 days, even in the case of force majeure, such as a landslide.
For delays lasting longer than 60 minutes, transport companies will have to offer passengers refreshments and meals when possible. They will also have to inform passengers of any delays or cancellations and put an information or complaints service at their disposal.
Holders of travel passes will also be entitled to compensation under conditions that the companies will set.
The new federal provisions bring passenger rights in Switzerland in line with European Union regulations.
More money for rail infrastructure
Also on Wednesday the government decided to grant railway companies in the country a total of CHF14.4 billion for infrastructure upgrades between 2021 and 2024. That’s CHF1.2 billion more than it had granted in the preceding period. Nearly half of the sum will go to the Swiss Federal Railways.
The funds will cover work on track and rail access, bridges and tunnels, safety installations and environmental protection measures.
More
More
Why free public transport is dead on arrival in Switzerland
This content was published on
Lower carbon emissions and fewer traffic jams: these are the selling points. But just how realistic is such an idea in Switzerland?
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
This content was published on
The Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) is embarking on a new stage to confront the global public with the scientific challenges of the future.
This content was published on
Valais initially had clearance to shoot one wolf pack, but this has been extended after wolves were found to have killed livestock.
Switzerland to step up humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Syria
This content was published on
The Swiss government decided to allocate an additional CHF7 million to the two countries in response to the escalating violence in the Middle East.
Report exposes widespread hygiene issues in Swiss hospitals
This content was published on
A Swissmedic report found that nearly all of the 25 Swiss hospitals inspected had issues with disinfecting, sterilising and packaging of medical products.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Government urged to do more to help companies
This content was published on
The government should boost its efforts to help businesses tackle the coronavirus crisis, says the director of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute.
Swiss railways are becoming safer, new figures show
This content was published on
There has been a fall in the number of accidents and fatalities on the Swiss railways, according to new national figures.
This content was published on
Jump on, ride to your stop, hop off — without offending anybody. Sounds easy, but it’s not, warns a guru of Swiss transport etiquette.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.