SBB takes the issue of disability discrimination seriously. It is investing considerable funds into making its trains and railway stations suitable for users with disabilities and where necessary, expanding its assistance options.

• For this reason, SBB maintains its SBB Call Center Handicap, which supports customers with restricted mobility in planning and undertaking their train journeys.
• Passengers in wheelchairs, those with mobility and visual impairments and those with intellectual impairments receive free assistance with boarding and alighting. In 2019 alone, SBB organised such assistance in over 150,000 cases at a cost of around twelve million Swiss francs. Across Switzerland, 77 employees assisted with this.
• SBB often goes beyond what is required by law and by the standards that apply in neighbouring countries/the EU. Currently, 78 per cent of all connections are accessible using a wheelchair, i.e. either independently or with the support of SBB employees.
• At all stations that are not accessible from the end of 2023, SBB will offer alternative solutions. These include assistance from the railway staff, mobile lifts and ramps. SBB will expand these alternative solutions and is currently working out the details with the Public Transport Union (PTU).
• On 6 December 2018, the Federal Office of Transport published the first annual report on the implementation of the DDA. SBB has enhanced its implementation concept on this basis. For SBB this means that after the DDA deadline comes to an end in 2023, we will continue making the railway accessible for all. The current status of DDA implementation of railway access can be seen on the public transport network map ‘Trafimage’.

DDA background information.

The Federal Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against People with Disabilities (DDA) and the Ordinance on the Adaptation of Public Transport to the Needs of People with Disabilities (PTAO) state that all public transport facilities must be fully accessible.

Our aim is for passengers with reduced mobility to be using SBB services without any discrimination and be able to travel as independently as possible by the end of 2023. This will not only benefit passengers with disabilities, but also senior citizens and passengers with pushchairs or a lot of luggage etc.

In order to implement the Disability Discrimination Act, we need to make some significant changes to infrastructure, rolling stock and passenger information.

The old vehicles with high doors, which are still used for regional and long-distance services, are being gradually phased out. The new rolling stock (long-distance double-deck trains, Giruno trains, IR double-deck trains, single-deck regional and S-Bahn trains) and the modernised IC2000 compositions provide not only step-free access to the wheelchair compartment but also to the entire train, where possible. At more and more stations, platforms have also been adjusted to enable step-free access to trains (platforms elevated to 55cm above the rails).

In addition to platform elevations and partial elevations, the measures in place since 2004 also include solutions using ramps and lifts. The Disability Discrimination Act, which SBB will be implementing on behalf of federal government, stipulates that public money is to be allocated proportionately. The law therefore permits alternative measures too, such as assistance from staff.

You can plan your journey from start to finish with the online timetable and SBB Mobile app. As well as timetables, you can also find information about accessible services, train compositions and the section in which the low-floor access coach with wheelchair space and accessible toilets will stop.

Find accessible connections in the SBB online timetable
Find accessible connections in the SBB Mobile app

Today, 68 percent of passengers travel accessibly through and around SBB railways stations.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) provides for travellers to have accessible access to platforms and to be able to board and alight trains independently by the end of 2023. This is the case today for 68 percent of travellers at SBB railways stations.

Our aim is for passengers with reduced mobility to be using SBB services as independently and as accessibly as possible. This is a benefit to passengers with reduced mobility and older people, as well as to passengers with pushchairs or a lot of luggage, for instance. This is why SBB is continually adapting railway stations by raising platforms, installing lifts and building ramps. The information for travellers is also continually improved and adapted to the needs of people with reduced mobility.

The DDA came into effect in 2004 and intends that after a transition period of 20 years, accessible access to platforms and boarding of trains will be possible. SBB has received over one billion Swiss franks from the Swiss government for this. The DDA stipulates that public money is to be allocated proportionately: at certain stations, structural solutions can only be implemented with unreasonably large financial efforts. For this reason, the DDA allows alternative measures under certain preconditions. At all stations where conversion does not meet the deadline or is not undertaken, SBB will provide alternative solutions, usually in the form of assistance from staff.

Already today, 68 percent of travellers can move around SBB railway stations without obstacles, thanks to ramps and lifts, and can board and alight trains via level access from raised platforms. This is currently the case at 414 out of a total of 764 SBB railway stations. By the end of 2023, travellers at 521 railway stations will be able to board and alight independently. This corresponds to 85 percent of all travellers. At the remaining stations, conversion measures will be implemented after 2023 so that, in the longer term, 99 percent of travellers will be able to change trains accessibly. According to current planning, only around 30 railway stations will not be converted for reasons of proportionality.

At around 50 railway stations, more in-depth discussions with the Federal Office of Transport are required as to whether and/or how they are to be adapted. The access points to the station and the platforms are also accessible at stations that have cants; the only barrier is between the platform edge and the train step.

SBB has expanded its range of low-floor services throughout Switzerland. Along with accessible railway stations and platform height adjustments, this allows passengers with reduced mobility to access the trains independently.

Information on accessible rolling stock
Information on independent travel with private transport companies

Our stations’ platform displays, announcements and operational status monitors are accessible in some cases. Tactile guidance paths, safety lines and tactile warning tiles allow blind and visually impaired passengers to travel independently. Small metal signs on the hand rails contain information in braille and relief lettering, helping passengers to find the right platform number and section. In larger stations, there is a guidance path system provided for blind passengers.

All sales channels allow customers to purchase tickets accessibly and meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Ticket machines are accessible for passengers with disabilities. For people who are blind, have a visual impairment and all other customers who need help to operate the ticket machines, the SBB helpline is available around the clock on the toll-free number 0800 11 44 77.

People who are blind or have a visual impairment can also buy their tickets accessibly online at SBB.ch or on the SBB Mobile app.

The SBB sales facilities in its 120 staffed stations provide folding tables, allowing customers with a restriction (e.g. customers in a wheelchair or with impaired mobility) to be served while seated.

The digital world enriches our lives in many different ways and is appearing in more and more aspects of our daily routine.

SBB is continuously optimising many of its services on websites, apps and in PDF documents to make them fully accessible, ensuring that they make good use of assistive technology. For instance, blind and visually impaired customers can read PDF documents on sbb.ch/handicap using a screen reader.

In March 2019, the ‘Access for All’ foundation certified the accessibility of SBB.ch. An independent team of accessibility experts tested whether the website was accessible and standards for certification are upheld.

Information on possible restrictions to accessible travel despite low-floor vehicles 

Technical disruptions to lifts and escalators at Zurich main station are listed on the Zurich main station page.