Launched on December 15, Léman Express comprises 45 stations and 230 kilometres of track and extends into canton Vaud in Switzerland and the Haute-Savoie and Ain regions in France.
Keystone / Salvatore Di Nolfi
Léman Express, the biggest cross-border regional rail network in Europe, pulls in some 25,000 passengers a day – half its projected target.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sb
But according to Mario Werren, director general of Lémanis SA, the Franco-Swiss firm operating the new network, the number of passengers using the cross-border network between Switzerland and France is above expectations.
Werren told reporters on Monday that he was positively surprised by the uptake from passengers, which he had expected to be slower.
Launched on December 15, Léman Express comprises 45 stations and 230 kilometres of track and extends into canton Vaud in Switzerland and the Haute-Savoie and Ain regions in France.
Map of the new Léman Express regional rail network in the Greater Geneva region
Léman Express
The authorities hope it will attract 50,000 passengers a day and slash road traffic by 12% in the Greater Geneva region.
Geneva officials say it is too early to assess the impact of Léman Express on commuting and on other forms of transport, such as cars.
Meanwhile, the launch of the new network has been hit by strikes in France. Rail workers, teachers, doctors, lawyers and others have taken part in 46 days of nationwide protests and strikes to denounce President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to overhaul the pension system. The strikes have hit transport networks the hardest.
Small technical problems relating to the rolling stock have also affected Léman Express, local officials said. Werren admitted trains sometimes had limited compartments and passenger space at rush hours. A full service, with all six lines, will be available from Wednesday.
Werren said improvements would also be made to signs at stations and information inside the trains.
More
More
Is the Léman Express on the right track with passengers?
This content was published on
One month after the launch of the Léman Express, swissinfo.ch jumps aboard to gauge public interest in the new cross-border rail network.
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
Is the Léman Express on the right track with passengers?
This content was published on
One month after the launch of the Léman Express, swissinfo.ch jumps aboard to gauge public interest in the new cross-border rail network.
French strike puts a damper on first run of Léman Express
This content was published on
The inaugural train service of the cross-border Léman Express service was only able to make it as far as Geneva due to strikes in France.
Léman Express to have a ‘major impact’ on Greater Geneva mobility
This content was published on
The Léman Express cross-border rail network opens on December 15 in Geneva and France. What effect will it have on traffic and urban development?
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.