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?
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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.