The SwissPass is the key which makes it even easier for you to access public transport. It is a plastic card – just like the existing travelcards. To begin with, private customers will receive their GA and Half-Fare travelcards on the SwissPass. The SwissPass is also equipped with modern technology (RFID chips) which enables you to access partner services such as Mobility Carsharing, PubliBike Europcar, Hotelcard and SwissMobile as well as a range of ski areas.

Subscriptions for business customers will follow in the second stage, which is expected to be some time in 2018. The offer (GA and Half-Fare travelcards) will continue to apply as usual until then. Unlike private customers, business customers will still be able to obtain one-, two- and three-year Half-Fare travelcards until the switchover to the SwissPass.

Yes, the SwissPass is available without a travelcard. You can obtain the SwissPass for free at a staffed sales point. You will then be able to benefit immediately from partner services such as Mobility Carsharing, PubliBike, SwitzerlandMobility and gain access to a range of ski areas.

In the lead-up to the introduction of the SwissPass for business customers, you can buy and manage your GA and Half-Fare travelcards as before via SBB Businesstravel. Since 1 August 2015, the 1-year Half-Fare travelcard will be ten francs cheaper.

As a business customer, you can buy 1-, 2- or 3-year Half-Fare travelcards via SBB Businesstravel as before. The Half-Fare travelcard is to be issued on the current blue carrier card.

As a business customer, you can buy GA travelcards via SBB Businesstravel as before at the current rates. The GA travelcard is to be issued on the current blue carrier card.

The introduction of the SwissPass will also affect the process of ordering all GA Plus travelcards, if the basic GA travelcard was purchased via the SBB Businesstravel online portal. Find out how to order a GA Plus Familia for children, a GA Plus Familia for young adults or a GA Plus Familia for partners in this case at sbb.ch/en/business-gaplus.

You can redeem Rail Checks and vouchers at staffed sales offices as before. If your employees pay for their GA or Half-Fare travelcards with Rail Checks or vouchers, these travelcards will be included on the SwissPass. 2-year and 3-year Half-Fare travelcards are not available on the SwissPass.

If the Rail Check or voucher is issued for a 2-year or 3-year Half-Fare travelcard, we will automatically credit the difference to the employee's SwissPass account to the value of a 1-year Half-Fare travelcard. We will then deduct this amount when the travelcard is automatically renewed.

For the time being, you can no longer use e-vouchers and promotional codes to buy GA and Half-Fare travelcards in the SBB Ticket Shop for private customers. Alternatively, you can part-fund your travelcards with the following payment methods:

• Rail Check
• SBB gift card
• Reka Rail

All other items in the product range can be paid for with promotional codes and e-vouchers as before.