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. 

The forecast for the entire train and the coach-specific forecast may not be currently consistent. This is because of different forecast methods. We are working on harmonising these two forecasts to make them more consistent in the future.

In the overview of connections, you can find information about the occupancy rate in 1st and 2nd class. Under train formation you can find information about the occupancy rate of 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. If only one stick person is in colour, the occupancy rate is very low; two stick people means moderate occupancy. When the occupancy rate is indicated by three stick people, the indicator turns red to emphasise the particularly high occupancy rate.

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. 

Via SBB Mobile:

In the timetable on SBB.ch: 

• Delays.
• Delays affecting critical changes of train.
• Delays of unspecified duration.
• Cancellations.
• Alternative connections.
• Platform alterations.
• Unscheduled station stops.
• Unscheduled omissions of station stops.

The following are inputted manually:

• Disruptions.
• Information.
• Delays.
• Rail replacement services.
• Engineering work.
• Any other notices.

• Under 3 minutes: no indication(?)Show note indicationException: If an alternative journey is shown, delays of one minute or more will be shown. Close note.
  
• From 3 to 20 minutes: in minute intervals.
• From 21 to 90 minutes: rounded down to the nearest 5 minutes.
• From 91 minutes: the newly calculated departure time will be shown.

Delays of unspecified duration: data are currently collected via the central customer information system.

The online channels retrieve their data via a different path to the departure boards at stations. The data processing and transfer time means that data appear on online channels with a delay of 1-2 minutes.

On Swiss railways, “unspecified delay” means that no prediction can be made as to when a service will continue its journey or stop at or depart from a later station.  

Possible reasons for an “unspecified delay”:

• a train has a technical problem which cannot be resolved within a fixed time frame.
• a train travelling on the route has a technical problem which cannot be resolved.
• a problem with the infrastructure cannot be resolved within a fixed time frame, causing suspension of service on the line (e.g. broken rail, damage to the catenary).
• natural disasters (e.g. landslide) causing suspension of service on the line. 
• a person on board in need of medical assistance needs to be picked up by an ambulance etc.

We offer confirmations of delays, for the following transport companies:

• SBB
• Zentralbahn
• SOB
• Thurbo
• BLS
• TPF
• Region Alps

For all other transport companies, please contact the customer service of the individual transport company.

The calculations behind it are highly complex. The following rules influence the search results:

• Priority 1: the fastest connection.
• Priority 2: the most convenient connection (fewest changes).
• Priority 3: the connection with the best train categories (e.g. an IC has priority over an S-Bahn).

The search results generated by this base calculation can also be influenced by:

• personalised searches, such as “carriage of bicycles”, “via field”, “barrier-free travel” etc., which can be set in the advanced search.
• popular alternative routes: for example, for the Bern – Brig route, both possible routes (1x via Lötschberg tunnel and 1x via the mountain route) are shown in the timetable.

All timetable queries take real time data into account. That means that alternative routes can also be offered.

Since stations and stops differ in size, passengers need different lengths of time to get from A to B. The timetable therefore calculates the minimum interchange time for each station or stop needed to change between transport services.

Example – Zürich HB: Transferring from a platform in the tunnel (platform 41-44 / platform 31-34) to a platform at ground level accessible from the large station concourse is often not as far as between platforms at ground level, e.g. from platform 3 to platform 18.

Advantage: connections are shown which can normally be reached without problems even though they do not meet the minimum interchange time.

Disadvantage: platform changes are not taken into account. In some cases, it is not possible to retain the short interchange time if there is a platform change.

The interchange time can be amended by the individual passenger on SBB.ch. In the advanced search, this can be extended to a given time interval (10 min, 20 min or 30 min). Under “via” you can even set an personalised interchange time.

The stops, addresses and sights recommended depend on the following criteria:

1. Number of elements in the information entered corresponding to the stop name. Example: Entry “mün mät” for “Münchenbuchsee, Mätteli”.
2. Corresponding character length. 
   Example: Entry “Langen Kantonalbank” for “Langenthal, Tell/Kantonalbank”. “Langnau am Albis, Zürcher Kantonalbank” is weighted less because the text is longer.
3. Weighting of traffic volume.
   If a stop is served by a higher number of journeys, this is listed first.
   Example: When entering “Zürich”, “Zürich HB” comes up before “Zürich Flughafen” or “Zürich Altstetten”.
4. Sequence of locations (only in the SBB Mobile app).
   If stops have already been searched once before on the same smartphone, they are listed first in a separate table list as fast choices.

Interchange at the same stop.

Given in the timetable as interchange with no time or metre distance indications.

Example: From Bern, platform 4 to Bern, platform 8. 

Interchange at the same location, but to a different transport service.

Given in the timetable as “walk”, including time indication, but no distance indication in metres.

Example: From Luzern, platform 5 to Luzern, Bahnhof, stand B.

Note: If the stop carries the adjunct “station”, this refers to a bus or tram stop outside of the railway station. 

Example: The stop “Luzern” = railway station. “Luzern, Bahnhof” = bus/tram stop.

Travel from/to address.

Given in the timetable as “walk” including time indication and distance indication in metres, since geographical coordinates are available.

Transfer on foot + by bus/tram.

Listed in the timetable as walk+bus or walk+tram, including time indication, but without distance indication.

Fahrplanfelder.ch provides a list of all the symbols used in the timetable.

The online timetable (SBB.ch) shows whether your train journey is accessible (“barrier-free”). You can filter for the following barrier-free statuses using the advanced search.

1. Self-boarding/alighting possible.
2. Assistance with boarding and alighting from the train crew.
   
3. Assistance with boarding and alighting with prior registration with the SBB Service Center Handicap. 
   
4. Carriage not possible.
   
5. No information available.

If the whole connection shows the status “independent boarding and alighting possible”, you can travel without assistance. 

To use other connections, you may need help boarding or alighting. In this case, our staff can help you: reserve help via SBB Call Center Handicap. The call centre number is 0800 007 102. 

You can find more information on accessible travel in the brochure “Accessible travel. Public transport passengers with reduced mobility” (Barrierefrei unterwegs. Reisende mit eingeschränkter Mobilität im Öffentlichen Verkehr) (in German, French and Italian).  

A dividing train is a train which divides into two separate train compositions en route. These units serve different destination stations. In short: a train with two destinations.   

When you use the advanced search on SBB.ch you have the option of choosing trains of a given category. This way you can influence the choice of connections shown. This filtering option is only available on SBB.ch and not in the SBB Mobile app. Generally, when making a general search for connections (without applying filters) the most convenient and fastest connection is selected.

Your preferred connection may not be shown for various reasons:

• The interchange time falls short of the required interchange time (or that set in the advanced search).
• A faster, more convenient connection is available.
• You have restricted your selection via the advanced search.

You may be able to find your preferred connection by selecting “consider alternative stops at departure point/destination” on SBB.ch. Reason: Construction works can mean that stops are temporarily moved.  

You can exclude tilting trains via the advanced search on SBB.ch. To do this, you must choose “no tilting trains”. This connection filter is not available in the SBB Mobile app.

When searching for connections on SBB.ch, you can choose “group travel (Switzerland only)”. This lets you filter for connections which can carry groups as a matter of course. 

There are some transport services (e.g. some small buses) which are not able to transport groups. They are then not shown in the selection. 

You can apply to embed the timetable via the following page: 
sbb.ch/en/timetable-integration

Just fill in your details in the form.