Self-service loading of bicycles means taking one bicycle or e-bike per person with you on the train. You can do this on most SBB trains and most trains of other transport companies, as well as with some bus companies (e.g. PostBuses). You place or hang the bicycle or e-bike in the designated area in the vehicle yourself.

Bikes allowed on InterCity (IC), InterRegio (IR), EuroCity (EC), InterCityExpress (ICE) and Railjet (RJX) trains within Switzerland.

Ordinary bicycles that are no more than two meters long.

Bikes allowed on RegioExpress (RE), S-Bahn (S) and Regio (R) train categories.

• In these train categories you can transport ordinary bicycles and special bicycles.
• Particularly in the case of special bikes, please note that escape routes, entrances and exits must always be kept clear.
• If you are taking special bikes along with you, you are advised to avoid peak travel times.

Definition of ‘ordinary bicycles’.

The total length of ordinary bicycles must not exceed two metres. For self-service loading of bicycles, it does not matter whether the bicycle is electrically assisted or not.

• Mountain bikes.
• Racing bikes.
• Gravel bikes.
• Everyday bikes etc.

Definition of ‘special bicycles’.

All bicycles which are longer than two meters, usually tandems, recumbent bicycles and cargo bicycles.

• When taking a bike on public transport, it is a requirement that you are able to load and unload it independently and store it in the holder provided.
• Furthermore, only one bike can be taken per person.
• Self-service loading of bicycles is only possible if there is sufficient space in the vehicles and it does not hinder other passengers.
• On , bicycle transport is only guaranteed if you have bought a bike space reservation in advance (check the online timetable).
• Escape routes, entrances and exits and access points to the engine driver’s cabin must always be kept clear.
• Bicycles that are very dirty may be excluded from carriage.

• Yes. Please note that boarding doors and the doors between coaches on some SBB trains are only suitable for trailer widths of a maximum of 80cm and 70cm respectively.
• Your bicycle trailer counts as hand luggage and therefore does not require a ticket.

In older coaches, the bicycle mounts are sometimes not set up for modern mountain bikes with 29-inch wheels and wider tires. Due to the limited space available, it is unfortunately not possible to optimise these bicycle spaces. Therefore, try turning the handlebars, removing a wheel, or maybe even let some air out of the tyre or use a bike lock to attach your bicycle to the hook. If none of this helps, contact the on-board staff so that an alternative location on the train can be found if necessary.

Vehicles with combustion engines (e.g. mopeds), triple tandem bikes, multi-seater horizontal bicycles, personal transporter (e.g. Segways) and electric mopeds.

No. You are not allowed to transport e-mopeds on the train. By e-mopeds, we mean any motorcycle-like vehicle which runs on electricity alone, regardless of its power.

Yes. You can take both e-scooters and normal scooters on the train. 

• Please stow your (electric) scooter in a suitable location on the train and ensure that it does not protrude into the passageway or take up bicycle spaces (e.g. under or between the seats).
• If your (electric) scooter can be folded, we kindly request that you place it folded up under the seat or in the luggage racks/niches. This ensures that more space is available for luggage, prams etc.
• Both foldable and unfoldable (electric) scooters are transported free of charge, provided the largest wheel has a diameter of no more than 30cm or less than 12 inches).

Yes, you are allowed to charge your e-bike battery on the train. Please note the following:

• Only charge your e-bike battery if, as far as you know, your battery is in perfect condition.
• Use the original charger.
• If available, use the power sockets right next to the bicycle spaces and leave the battery on the bike.
• If there are no power sockets by the bicycle spaces, avoid charging the battery directly next to luggage or other highly flammable objects.

Yes. You also need a separate ticket for your bike for self-service loading of bicycles.

Purchase bike tickets.

You can purchase bike tickets online on SBB.ch, via the SBB Mobile app, from ticket machines or at a public transport point of sale.

Before you buy a ticket. Have you checked the timetable to see whether a  is necessary for the route you want to take? If a reservation is required, we recommend that you make the reservation first and only then buy the bike ticket.

Purchase for yourself and for your bike in the SBB Mobile app.

If you would like to buy the ticket for your bike together with your own ticket, proceed as follows:

1. Enter the route and select your desired connection.
2. Select ‘Tickets from CHF...’.
3. Tap on ‘Edit passenger’ (pencil symbol).
4. Tap the plus sign at the bottom next to the bicycle symbol once.
5. Tap on ‘Accept’.
6. The bike ticket will now appear together with your ticket in the overview and you can buy the tickets together.
7. Would you like to buy a ticket and a bike ticket for several people at the same time? Add a bicycle for each co-passenger. Only one bike can be taken per person. Children aged under 16 who are accompanied by an adult do not need a bike ticket. 
8. Tap on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF …’ 

If your connection includes a train which requires reservation, a reservation will automatically be added to your selection. You can remove the reservation from the offer by tapping on the pencil symbol in the offer overview. Please note, however, that you can only use the selected connection if you have a reservation for your bicycle.

Purchase in the SBB Mobile app (if you already have a ticket for yourself).

1. Enter the route and select your desired connection.
2.  Select ‘Tickets from CHF...’.
3. Tap on ‘Edit passenger’ (pencil symbol).
4. Tap on the red tick next to your name so that you only receive offers for your bicycle.
5. Tap the plus sign at the bottom next to the bicycle symbol once (or several times if you want to buy several bike tickets).
6. Tap on ‘Accept’.
7. The bicycle ticket will now appear in the overview and you can buy the ticket.
8. Tap on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF …’ 

If your connection includes a train which requires reservation, a reservation will automatically be added to your selection. You can remove the reservation from the offer by tapping on the pencil symbol in the offer overview. Please note, however, that you can only use the selected connection if you have a reservation for your bicycle.

Online on SBB.ch with a login.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign in using your SwissPass login.
2. Enter the route into the timetable and select your preferred connection.
3. Click on ‘Tickets from CHF …’.
4. Click on ‘Edit passenger’ (pencil symbol).
5. Click the plus sign at the bottom next to the bicycle symbol once.
6. If you do not need a ticket for yourself, deselect the red tick next to your name with a click.
7. Click on ‘Accept’.
8. Click on ‘Continue’.
9. Chose your payment method and click on ‘Buy now’.

Online on SBB.ch without a login.

Here’s how it works:

1. Enter the route into the timetable and select your preferred connection.
2. Click on ‘Tickets from CHF xx.xx’.
3. Click on ‘Purchase as a guest’.
4. Enter your name, date of birth, e-mail address and discount card and click on the plus sign next to the bicycle symbol.
5. If you do not need a ticket for yourself, click on the box to the left of ‘Buy ticket for dog/bike only’.
6. Click on ‘Accept’.
7. Click on ‘Continue’.
8. Select your payment method and click on ‘Buy now’.

Where and how can I buy a Bike Day Pass?

You can purchase Bike Day Passes online on SBB.ch, via the SBB Mobile app, from ticket machines or at a public transport point of sale.

The Bike Day Pass is automatically offered during purchase on SBB.ch or via SBB Mobile (see the question ‘How can I buy tickets for my bicycle?’) as soon as the price for the bike ticket reaches the amount of CHF 15.

Alternatively, you can buy the Bike Day Pass directly online at SBB.ch or via the SBB Mobile app in the ‘Shop & Services’ tab.

Please note that the area of validity for the Bike Day Pass differs from that of normal Point-to-Point Tickets and GA/Half Fare Travelcards.

Where and how do I buy an annual bike pass?

The annual bike pass is available for CHF 260 per bike per year on the SwissPass.

If you already hold a SwissPass, you can purchase an annual bike pass online or at any staffed point of sale. The annual bike pass is integrated onto your SwissPass.

• Buy an annual bike pass with SwissPass online 
• If you do not hold a SwissPass

Please note that the area of validity for the annual bike pass differs from that of normal Point-to-Point Tickets and GA/Half Fare Travelcards.

For tandems or special bicycles in general (all types of bicycles which do not fit into the normal bicycle racks or are longer than two metres, e.g. cargo bicycles, recumbent bicycles) you need a Point-to-Point Bike Ticket, a Bike Day Pass ticket or an annual bike pass.

Please note the provisions of the transport companies regarding whether and under what conditions the transport of special bicycles is permitted.

For children under 6 years old, children’s bikes are considered hand luggage and can be transported free of charge.

Bambini e ragazzi in possesso di un AG Ragazzi o di un AG Famiglia Ragazzi possono portare gratuitamente la bici anche senza accompagnamento.

Children with a GA Travelcard for Children or a GA Travelcard Familia for Children can take their bike with them for free even when on their own.

If these conditions are not met, you will need a ticket for each children’s bike.

For bicycles belonging to children aged 6 and over, you must buy a bike space reservation for trains where reservations for bicycles are compulsory.

If a bike space reservation is mandatory on your desired connection, it is best to purchase one with the SBB Mobile app. You can identify mandatory bicycle reservations by the bicycle symbol with R .

With the SBB Mobile app.

1. Open the app.
2. Enter the route and select your desired connection.
3. Tap on ‘Tickets from CHF...’.
4. Tap on ‘Edit passenger’ (pencil symbol).
5. Tap the plus sign at the bottom next to the bicycle symbol once.
6. Tap on ‘Accept’.
7. If your journey includes a train which requires reservation, this will be added automatically if available. If you already have a reservation, you can deselect the reservation by tapping on the pencil symbol.
8. Click on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF …’.

If you only wish to purchase a reservation, select ‘Bike space reservation only’ under ‘Additional offers’. Adjust the number of passengers by tapping on ‘Edit passengers’ (pencil symbol) and then on the plus sign.  

Online on SBB.ch with a login.

1. Sign in using your SwissPass login.
2. Enter the route into the timetable and select your preferred connection.
3. Click on ‘Tickets from CHF xx.xx’.
4. Click on ‘Edit passenger’ (pencil symbol).
5. Click the plus sign at the bottom next to the bicycle symbol once.
6. Click on ‘Accept’.
7. If your journey includes a train which requires reservation, this will be added automatically if available. If you already have a reservation, you can deselect the reservation by clicking on ‘Bike space reservation’. 
8. Click on ‘Continue’ and complete the purchase.

If you only wish to purchase a reservation, select ‘Bike space reservation only’ under ‘Additional offers’. Adjust the number of passengers by tapping on ‘Edit passengers’ (pencil symbol) and then on the plus sign.  

Online on SBB.ch without a login.

1. Enter the route into the timetable and select your preferred connection.
2. Click on ‘Tickets from CHF xx.xx’.
3. Click on ‘Purchase as a guest’.
4. Enter your name, date of birth, e-mail address and discount card and click on the plus sign next to the bicycle symbol.
5. Click on ‘Accept’.
6. If your journey includes a train which requires reservation, this will be added automatically if available. If you already have a reservation, you can deselect the reservation by clicking on ‘Bike space reservation’. 
7. Click on ‘Continue’ and complete the purchase.

If you only wish to purchase a reservation, select ‘Bike space reservation only’ under ‘Additional offers’. Adjust the number of passengers by tapping on ‘Edit passengers’ (pencil symbol) and then on the plus sign.  

At the station.

All bike space reservations are also available at staffed public transport points of sale.

Via the SBB Contact Center.

Alternatively, you can reserve your bicycle space via the SBB Contact Centre on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.) no later than 3 working days before the start of your journey.

From 21 March to 31 October, you will need a bike space reservation for your bike on InterCity (IC) trains. In the timetable, trains requiring reservation are marked with the  symbol.

• Every day for the IC2/21 lines through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (Basel/Zurich–Ticino).
• Every day for the IC5/51 lines at the southern foot of the Jura (Basel–Biel/Bienne, Rorschach/Zurich–Biel/Bienne–Lausanne/Geneva).
• From Friday to Sunday as well as Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday and 1 August for all other InterCity lines. 

You will also need a reservation throughout the year for the Swiss section of the route for the following trains operating internationally: EuroCity (EC), Intercity-Express (ICE), Railjet (RJX) and InterCity (IC) (Zurich–Schaffhausen).

Please make sure to check whether your chosen train is subject to reservation in good time so that you can take your bike along with you. The online and mobile timetables are updated daily.

Please note that you cannot cancel or rebook reservations for bicycle spaces.

A bike space reservation costs CHF 2 for all trains within Switzerland that require a reservation. For connections involving changes, the reservation on the connecting train is free of charge.

Bicycle spaces can generally be reserved three months in advance. In the event of construction work which affects train services, this period may be reduced to up to a fortnight before the date of travel. At Operations and disruptions you will find an overview of construction sites which have an impact on train services.

Yes, even with an annual bike pass, you still need a reservation for trains where .

• No reservation is necessary for bicycles, balance bikes and scooters belonging to children below 6 years old.
• A reservation is required for bicycles belonging to children between the ages of 6 and 16. 

You do not need a reservation for your (e-)scooter, even on trains which require reservations. Exception: your (e-)scooter is too big to be stowed in a luggage stowage/niche or under or between the seats.

The coach and space number is indicated on your reservation confirmation. On the day of your journey, you can check the train formation to see in which sector the coach with your reserved space is located. The train formation can be found in the SBB Mobile app and on the online timetable at SBB.ch.

• In the app, swipe the desired connection from right to left to do this.
• For the desired connection, click on the ‘Show details’ button in the online timetable. Then click on the arrow in the bottom left until the route and train formation are shown.

Via SBB Mobile:

In the timetable on SBB.ch:

At the railway station.

At many stations, the coach numbers can be seen on the blue displays on the platform. These may also display the bicycle pictograms.

No, bicycle space reservations can only be made on trains where reservations are compulsory (bicycle symbol with R ). On all other trains, it is not possible to reserve bicycle spaces.

The reservation system allocates spaces automatically. Unfortunately, it is not possible to choose between 1st and 2nd class when making the reservation.

Either the train is already fully booked, or the coach does not have three bicycle spaces available in the same coach. Try to split up your reservation (e.g. two bicycles and one bicycle) or choose another connection.

• The IC trains on lines 2/21 (Basel/Zurich–Ticino) need to be reserved every day of the week during the cycling season from 21 March to 31 October. You can reserve bicycle spaces using the SBB Mobile app.
• Bicycle spaces on EuroCity trains to/from Italy can also be reserved for journeys within Switzerland. You can reserve bicycle spaces using the SBB Mobile app.

Bike space reservations purchased via your SBB.ch login or in the SBB Mobile app can be cancelled right up to the planned departure time. No fee is charged and your space will be freed up again. Reservations purchased on SBB.ch can also be cancelled in the SBB Mobile app and vice versa.

Please note that the free refund option is not available for purchases made as a guest.

Bike space reservations purchased at the ticket counter or via the SBB Contact Center can be refunded at a staffed station. Refunds are free of charge up to two hours before departure. Less than two hours before departure, the space will be freed up but no refund will be given.

Refunds on SBB.ch.

1. Sign in using your SwissPass login.
2. Click on the red ‘My profile’ button.
3. Your reservation can be found under ‘Orders’.
4. Select ‘Display orders’ for the reservation you would like to have refunded.
5. Click on ‘Refund’.
6. Confirm the details by clicking on ‘Refund’ again.
7. The refund amount will be credited back to your original payment method. 

Refund in the SBB Mobile app.

1. Tap on the ‘Tickets & Travelcards’ tab at the bottom (symbol with QR code).
2. Select the reservation you would like to have refunded.
3. Tap on the circle with the three dots at the top right and select ‘Refund ticket’.
4. Confirm the details by tapping ‘Refund ticket’ again.
5. The refund amount will be credited back to your original payment method.

The reservation system allocates spaces automatically. Unfortunately, it is not possible to select a specific coach.

If there are enough available spaces in a coach, you can reserve up to 9 bicycle spaces at the same time. However, it is not possible to reserve more spaces at the same time than are available in a given individual coach.

You can reserve bike spaces via the SBB Mobile app on all trains within Switzerland if reservation is mandatory at the time of your journey.

Yes, you can in certain cases.

Yes, the annual bike pass is integrated onto a personal SwissPass and is therefore only valid for that person. 

No, we cannot offer self-service loading of bicycles for groups of 10 or more people.

Yes. You can cancel the annual bike pass up until two travelcard months have passed. To do so, visit a staffed public transport point of sale or call the SBB Contact Center (via the phone number at the bottom of the page).

• If you have used the annual bike pass for no more than one month and would like to cancel it, you will receive 50% of the purchase price as a refund. 
• If you have used the annual bike pass for two months, you can still get 25% of the purchase price back. 
• Cancellation is not possible if you have used it for more than two months.

Folding bicycles should be stowed as luggage items under the seat, in the luggage stowage/niches or in other suitable places where they do not hinder other passengers or occupy any bicycle spaces.

• You do not need a reservation or a ticket for this. 
• No packing/bag is required.