Take your bike on your travels: buying a bike ticket lets you load bicycles onto most trains and Postbuses in Switzerland.
Please note that carriage capacity for bikes may be limited on certain connections when demand is high – usually when the weather is nice – and the carriage of bikes is not guaranteed.
Please allow enough time for your arrival and for changing trains.
Bike space reservations will be mandatory from 21 March to 31 October on InterCity trains (ICs) marked with the bike reservation sign in the timetable, e.g. via the foot-of-the-Jura line (IC5/51) and through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (IC2/21). Further information can be found under «Reservation requirements and restrictions».
On Zurich S-Bahn trains you can only take your bike with you between 8am and 4pm and between 7pm and 6am Monday to Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays there are no restrictions.
Postbuses can only carry a limited number of bikes. On some postbus routes, you have to reserve cycle spaces in advance. Please note the information in the timetable.
Planning your journey.
In the online timetable, select “Advanced search” and then “Carriage of bicycles required (Switzerland only)” to see the connections on which bikes can be carried.
Trains or Postbuses for which reservations are required are indicated with a bike symbol in a rectangular frame. From 21 March to 31 October, a bicycle storage space must be reserved on InterCity trains (IC) which are marked with the bike reservation symbol on the timetable (e.g. on the IC 5 St. Gallen–Geneva, on the IC 51 Basel–Biel and on trains which run through the Gotthard Base Tunnel). You can purchase a reservation at the station or via SBB Mobile or SBB.ch up to five minutes before departure.
Please consider the occupancy forecast when choosing your train:
On traditional days for excursions when good weather is forecast, expect increased passenger volumes between 7am and 9am and 4pm and 7pm on trains to Ticino, Valais, the Bernese Oberland, the Seeland region, the Jura, Graubünden or Lake Constance on various lines. This means there may be limited space on the trains. As a result, we sometimes reach our capacity limits and have to ask passengers to change to other connections.
Bicycle shipping or rental are good alternatives to taking your bike with you on the train.
For trains with mandatory reservation, you must buy a bicycle space reservation in addition to a bike ticket for the price of CHF 5.
You can purchase a reservation at the station or on the SBB Mobile app or SBB.ch website up to five minutes before departure.
Alternatively, you can reserve your bicycle space via the SBB Contact Centre on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.) no later than three working days before the start of your journey.
If you cannot present a reservation when on the train, you are required to pay a CHF 10 surcharge. However, this does not guarantee you a space for your bike – if necessary, you will have to give up your bicycle space your passengers with a reservation.
The reservation fee cannot be refunded.
You cannot reserve a bicycle space on trains that do not have the bike reservation symbol.
Reservations are mandatory for the carriage of bikes on international journeys. You will also need an international bike ticket. You can collect your bike ticket and reservation at the ticket counter.
With a reservation for your bike on IC trains travelling between Zurich and Lugano/Chiasso in either direction through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, you automatically benefit from guaranteed seating in the same coach as your bike.
This service is free for customers with a bike reservation and is valid between 21 March and 31 October.
The seats labelled “RESERVATION VELO” are reserved for you. – Please leave these seats free for passengers with a bike reservation.
See which sections of the platform the coaches with bicycle spaces (bicycle hooks, bicycle platforms) will arrive in as early as three hours before your train departs. The online timetable and the SBB Mobile app both show the locations for a large number of connections under “Show train formation”.
Groups of ten or more cannot take their bikes with them on the train.
Given available space, it makes sense, and may at times be necessary, for small groups of up to 9 people to spread themselves across different coaches with bicycle spaces.
Reservations are mandatory for groups of 6 or more people on the PostBus network.
Tip: Our partner Rent a Bike offers tailor-made group tours. However, if your group would like to travel with their own bikes, you can simply register them as items of luggage – we can transport your bikes for you between all stations able to handle luggage.
Please allow enough time for your arrival and for changing trains.
In the event of capacity bottlenecks, please take a later train, one of the additional trains laid on during peak periods or an alternative connection.
When the train arrives, please look out for those coach doors bearing the bicycle pictograms and board here with your bicycle.
Passengers may only take one bike each.
Your bike must not be loaded with panniers, helmets etc.
Please make sure that you are able to carry your bike or e-bike onto the train and, if necessary, hang it up without assistance.
Place your bike in the space provided for it on the train. Depending on the train type, you may have to hang it on a bike hook.
For safety reasons, walkways, entrances and exits must be kept clear at all times.
Bikes can only be taken on the train if there is sufficient space.
Please follow the instructions given to you by the train crew. They may impose restrictions on taking bicycles for safety reasons.
Important information.
From 21 March to 31 October, a bicycle storage space must be reserved on InterCity trains (IC) which are marked with the bike reservation symbol on the timetable (e.g. on the IC 5 St. Gallen–Geneva, on the IC 51 Basel–Biel and on trains which run through the Gotthard Base Tunnel). You can purchase a reservation at the station or via SBB Mobile or SBB.ch up to five minutes before departure.
Postbuses can only carry a limited number of bicycles. Bicycle spaces must be reserved in advance on some postbus routes. Please note the information given on the timetable. You can find more information at: postauto.ch/enLink opens in new window.
Self-service loading of bicycles on services to other European countries: reservations are mandatory and you will require an international bike ticket.
On Saturdays and Sundays, you can take your bike on Zurich S-Bahn trains with no restrictions. From Monday to Friday, it is only possible from 8am to 4pm and 7pm to 6am.
Bikes may not be transported on certain S-Bahn trains in Ticino at peak time from Monday to Friday (excluding school summer holidays). These trains are indicated in the timetable with a crossed-out bike symbol.
Due to the dimensions of train doors and for safety reasons, only bike trailers no wider than 80cm can be carried on most trains.
Postbus: services vary depending on the region. Bicycles cannot be carried on certain routes.
Carriage of the following vehicles is permitted and requires payment (bike ticket required).
Bikes or e-bikes no longer than 2m and no heavier than 25kg. The bike’s user must always be able to carry it and load it onto the train themselves without issue.
Please note: tandem bikes, recumbent bikes, three-wheelers and other vehicles are not permitted on SBB’s EC, IC and IR trains for space and safety reasons.
To find out about carrying bikes on the trains of other transport companies, please contact them directly.
Carriage of the following vehicles is permitted and requires no payment (bike ticket not required).
Vehicles stowed in bicycle carry cases such as TranZBag.
Bike trailers being used to transport children.
You can take your bicycle on the train with you free of charge as hand luggage if you pack it into a transport bag.
Use a special carry case for this such as the TranZBag which is available in the SBB Online Shop or from specialist bike or outdoor shops. Every cover is acceptable regardless of its manufacturer. The front wheel must be removed and packed into the transport bag along with the bike.
Here’s how it works.
During the journey, stow your bike in its cover under your seat, on an overhead luggage rack or in the nearest vestibule area.
Please make sure your bicycle carry case is secure and cannot tip over, is not in the way of other passengers, is not blocking any sliding doors and does not constitute a hazard.
Areas marked with bike symbols are reserved for bicycles that are subject to a fee and must not be occupied by bicycles in carry cases.
If you wish to put your carry case on a seat, you must purchase an additional half-fare ticket.
As with any item of hand luggage, you alone are responsible for your bike.
For hygiene reasons, folding bikes must be folded up and packed away.
