If a train is very busy, i.e. if there are as many or even more passengers on the train than there are seats available, then we refer this as “high occupancy” or “overcrowding”.

Overcrowding becomes a problem when the safety of passengers and the train crew can no longer be guaranteed in an emergency situation. In an emergency, it is critical that everyone can evacuate quickly. If the aisles of a train are blocked by luggage or passengers, this cannot be guaranteed. Consequently, staff are instructed to limit the occupancy of long-distance trains when passenger volumes are very high.

For the Gotthard Base Tunnel, there are increased safety regulations in force.

The head passenger attendant assesses the situation but does not count the passengers.

In the event of a fire in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, trains are driven out of the tunnel whenever possible. This procedure requires that passengers can escape into another coach from a coach that is on fire. Of course, this requires a certain level of space in reserve.

If there are too many passengers on the train, the head passenger attendant may ask passengers to leave the train.

It happens very rarely. For trains travelling through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, one out of approximately 850 trains experiences a situation where passengers have to disembark for safety reasons.

SBB long-distance trains can be a maximum of 160% full. That means that a maximum of 60% more people can travel than there are seats available. For trains travelling through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, a maximum occupancy rate of 140% applies. These are guideline values.

These provisions are specified by SBB as the operator of both the trains and the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

No one is forced to leave the train because in Switzerland, transport obligation is in force. Anyone with a valid ticket is allowed to travel. However, the passenger attendants can prevent the train from departing if safety cannot be guaranteed. As the next train usually leaves a short time later, there are always volunteers who are happy to leave the train.

If not enough passengers agree to leave the train, the train cannot continue and will be cancelled.

SBB does not provide for compensation in such cases. However, the passenger attendants can issue coffee vouchers for the dining car at their own discretion.

We use occupancy forecasts to guide passengers towards taking trains with lower occupancy rates. What’s more, we run additional trains on peak days such as Ascension Day or during the Easter holidays. In exceptional cases, however, overcrowding may still occur, for example, if another train is cancelled at short notice.

You can find information about the occupancy rate in 1st and 2nd class in the connection overview. In the train formation view, you can find further details about the occupancy rate in individual coaches.

The occupancy estimates are based on two different occupancy forecasts: the class-specific and coach-specific occupancy forecast (see “What is an occupancy forecast?”). 

Both occupancy predictions are represented by three stick people. These show how high the occupancy rate is. The following scale is used to do so: 

• 1 stick person: low to medium occupancy expected.  
• 2 stick people: high occupancy expected.  
• 3 stick people: very high occupancy expected. The stick people are then coloured red.  

Occupancy forecasts exist to inform our passengers about the occupancy rate of each train. We offer two main types of occupancy forecasts: class-specific and coach-specific occupancy forecasts.

Class-specific.

The class-specific occupancy forecast shows how busy individual trains in 1st and 2nd class are statistically likely to be. The data are based on the previous year and are supplemented by regular customer surveys and current (group) reservations. 

Coach-specific.

The coach-specific occupancy forecast shows how busy individual coaches are. The data are continuously compared with recently measured passenger frequencies. Additional factors such as holidays and public holidays at the origin and destination and the weather are taken into account. 

It is possible that the forecast for the whole train is inconsistent with the coach-specific forecast at a given time. This is because of different forecast methods. We are working on harmonising these two forecasts to make them more consistent in the future.

Information on the order of coaches (also known as “formation data”) can be found for your chosen connection by swiping in the SBB Mobile app or selecting train information in the timetable on SBB.ch. 

The train information gives the sectors where coaches will stop, the order of coaches, the individual types of coaches (family coach, restaurant, bicycle storage space and wheelchair spaces), classes of coach (1st and 2nd class) and the direction of travel. 

In the SBB Mobile app:

In the timetable on SBB.ch:

Follow our tips on travel planning for a relaxing journey.