This change, which was implemented on 11 December 2011, mainly relates to long-distance services. Due to rising demand and, in many cases, short journey times between stops, it was becoming increasingly difficult under the existing inspection system for inspectors to check the tickets of all passengers on long-distance services and customers were no longer able to buy tickets after boarding. As a result, SBB was having to forgo revenues to the tune of some tens of millions of francs. If it had not changed the system, even bigger fare increases would have become inevitable in the future. 

Consequently, the obligation to buy a ticket before travelling – which already applied to regional and local services, has now been extended to long-distance services. This fare regulation also applies to the Swiss section of the international train journeys.

SBB trains for which you must be in possession of a valid ticket before boarding all carry the pictogram .

A passenger without a valid ticket is any person who is unable to present a ticket that is valid, or at least partially valid, for the entire route. Passengers travelling without a ticket or with a partially valid ticket are liable to pay an increased supplement on top of the cost of a ticket. It is immaterial whether you did not have time to buy a ticket or whether you can no longer find your ticket. Furthermore, your personal details will be electronically recorded and kept for at least two years. You will be charged both the cost of the ticket and the supplement.

You can find all the details in the General Passenger Tarif.

Disabled persons, children and groups are exempt from the increased supplement. Likewise, an accommodating attitude is adopted for passengers who have forgotten their personal travelcard (they will continue to pay a CHF 5 service surcharge).

On long-distance services (IC, ICN, IR and international trains), it is still possible to purchase a class or route upgrade on board the train without paying a supplement. The minimum price for a class upgrade is CHF 10. It is not possible to purchase ticket upgrades on regional services (RE, R, S, SN).

With these supplements, a distinction will be made between invalid tickets and partially valid tickets. Moreover, the supplements will increase if you travel without a valid ticket more than once.

Passengers with a partially valid ticket.

Passengers travelling with a partially valid ticket are deemed to be those:

• on regional services
  - who are not in possession of a class upgrade
  - who are not in possession of a route upgrade or hold a ticket for a different route (which has the same departure and destination stations or the same departure and destination zones, but another direct and similar route)
• on all services
  - who do not have a supplement or have the wrong supplement (e.g. a night-time supplement)
  - have a ticket for the wrong customer group (e.g. a half-price or reduced-price ticket without justification)
  - have chosen the wrong mode of transport for part of a route (e.g. on the Berne − Zurich Enge via Zurich HB route, part of the journey is made by tram)

Supplements for passengers with a partially valid ticket:

Passengers with an invalid ticket.

A passenger with an invalid ticket is any person who is unable to present a ticket that is valid for the entire route.

Supplements for passengers with an invalid ticket:

Additional charges may be payable in the following cases:

Prices and products subject to change.