Yes, you must hold a valid ticket to travel on all SBB trains (local, regional and long-distance services).

Yes, on their Swiss routes.

It is normal to validate a ticket before a journey. This is usual in every tram, in regional services and also on rapid transit trains. It is also becoming more and more difficult to sell a ticket on the train to all customers in long-distance services. SBB loses tens of millions because of this – that's about one percent of fares.

Selling tickets on the train is simply no longer realistic considering the 400 metre long double-deck trains gradually being introduced since 2013.

Furthermore, market research has shown that service is naturally important for our customers – but ticket sales are not at the top of their wish lists. Change of route or change of class is, however. We will continue to offer these facilities for this reason.

If you are unable to present a ticket that is valid for all or part of the route you are travelling, you will be given a ‘travel without a valid ticket’ form. If you travel without a valid ticket or with only a partly valid ticket, you will pay a surcharge in addition to the fare. 

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 will be given a ‘travel with only a partly valid ticket’ form, if you are travelling with a ticket that is valid for the entire route, but is insufficient for one of the following specific reasons:

RemitF 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)

If you are lacking up to 1 required zone on a fare network ticket or up 1 stop on a national ticket, you will only have to pay the reduced supplement.

RemitF 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 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 10 francs. It is not possible to purchase ticket upgrades on regional services (RE, R, S, SN).

Yes, the exceptions are as follows:

• Forgotten your personal travelcard: you pay a fee of CHF 5 only.
• Families: children do pay an increased surcharge.
• Groups: the increased surcharge is charged once only.

Comments:

• The fee is collected against a bill (passengers resident outside the EU and Switzerland = fee collected on the train).
• The passenger and travel data are recorded on the train.
• Cases in regional services (RV) and long-distance traffic (FV) are added together to determine the surcharge.
• In regional services, a flat-rate fare is billed in addition to the surcharges.
• In long-distance services, the actual fare is billed in addition to the surcharges.
• The surcharges are differentiated depending on whether the ticket is invalid or partially valid. Additionally, the surcharges increase in the 2nd and 3rd instances.
• The obligation to buy a ticket before travelling applies generally on transport company networks for direct services in Switzerland.

Additional costs can arise in the following cases:

If you receive an invoice, payment reminder or demand notice from us regarding a travel without a valid ticket, these must be paid by the following deadlines:

• Invoice: within 20 days
• 1st demand notice: within 10 days
• 2nd demand notice: within 10 days

Did you forget your travelcard or your SwissPass?

Were you unable to present your valid, personal travelcard or your SwissPass to the ticket inspector? Pay the fee of CHF 5 for retroactively presenting your travelcard/SwissPass at the ticket counter or via the online form within 10 days. 

Note: 

• Present your travelcard/SwissPass together with the ‘Travel without a valid ticket’ form.
• The fee rises to CHF 30 after 10 days. You will receive the invoice from the SBB Revenue Service Centre by post.

Yes, however data protection legislation means that we require your power of attorney.

Think about who might have been able to misuse your identity. Misuse of your identity is a criminal act. For this reason, you could make a complaint to the police.

Please also contact us without delay:

No. Please submit a written request to have the entry deleted (retraction costs: CHF 50).

Yes, under certain conditions. Please complete the electronic form “Payment by instalments”:

No, on no account! First check to whom you have paid this debt. Did you perhaps pay the debt to a different debt collection agency (e.g. Zurich Transport Network, Bernmobil)? If not, please contact us.

Yes, because SBB's debt collection centre is a non-commercial agent within the meaning of the Swiss Federal Act on Debt Collection and Bankruptcy section 27 paragraph 2.

Yes, we can take you to court for infringement of the Swiss Passenger Transport Act (PBG). Bear in mind that if you are taken to court you will incur further costs (court costs, penalties, etc.).

Yes, because the SBB Revenue Service Centre is not a professional representative as per Art. 27 para. 2 of DEBA.

You have the option to indicate your requests in the form ‘Reminder before start of debt collection procedure (RogF)’.

You have the option to indicate your requests in the form ‘Reminder before start of debt collection procedure (RogF)’.

No. Please submit a written request to have the entry deleted (retraction costs: CHF 50).

In the form ‘Reminder before start of debt collection procedure (RogF)’, select the category ‘Other reason’.

Do you wish to pay your outstanding debts in instalments?

No problem – you should note the following conditions:

• Minimum monthly instalment: CHF 40
• There is a one-off fee of CHF 40 for the instalment agreement (administrative expenses).
• Maximum number of monthly instalments: 24

Are you interested, and can you meet these conditions? If yes, then please complete the following form:

Have you received an invoice, payment reminder or demand notice with threat of debt enforcement with regard to a journey without a valid ticket? Would you like to extend the deadline?

We offer a deadline extension of up to three months from the date of travel. If you would like a deadline extension of more than three months, a payment postponement of a maximum of six months may be granted. However, this is only possible if there is a guardianship or similar and a debt restructuring plan is submitted.

Please note that no further travel without a valid ticket or with only a partly valid ticket is permitted within the payment period. Otherwise, the agreement will be void and the debts shall become due for payment immediately.

Have you read the above terms and conditions and wish to extend your deadline? Then please complete the following form:

Have you changed your address?

Please complete the following form to notify us of your new address:

Would you like to request consolidation of all your outstanding debts? 

Please complete the following form:

Would you like to submit an application for withdrawal of debt collection proceedings or the deletion of an entry in the debt collection register? Please complete the following form:

Submit any other questions or feedback about an invoice you have received using this form.