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 bike reservation symbol .

• Every day for the IC2/21 lines (Basel/Zurich–Ticino).
• Every day for the IC5/51 lines (Basel–Biel/Bienne, Rorschach/St. Gallen–Zurich–Biel/Bienne–Lausanne).
• 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) Zürich HB–Singen/Stuttgart.

During the summer season from May to October, there are certain tourist bus lines operated by PostBus and other companies where reservations are required for bicycles every day. In the timetable, routes requiring reservation are marked with the bicycle reservation symbol ‘BICYCLES: Reservation required’.

A prerequisite for travelling with a bicycle is that you can load it and unload it independently and place it in the holder provided. 

Please note the following:

• Special bikes (tandems, recumbent bicycles, tricycles, cargo bicycles and other bicycles over 2 metres in length) can only be transported on SBB train categories RE, S and R. The companies SOB and RhB also allow them on IR trains provided that there is enough space.
• Postbuses cannot carry bicycles which do not fit into the racks, or which are over 2 metres long.
• Vehicles with combustion engines (e.g. mopeds), three-person tandems, multi-seater recumbent bicycles, personal transporters (e.g. Segways) and electric mopeds are excluded from being transported.
• Connections that do not allow passengers to transport bicycles are marked with a crossed-out bicycle symbol in the online timetable.
• On trains of the Zurich S-Bahn (SBB, Thurbo, SZU), self-service loading of bicycles is only possible to a limited extent from Monday to Friday between 6am and 8am and between 4pm and 7pm. Please pay attention to the information (a crossed-out bicycle symbol ) in the online timetable.
• In Ticino, self-service loading of bicycles in the S and RE train categories is only possible to a limited extent from Monday to Friday between 7am and 9am and between 4pm and 7pm. Please pay attention to the information (a crossed-out bicycle symbol ) in the online timetable.
• Due to the dimensions of train doors, and for safety reasons, only bike trailers no wider than 80cm can be carried on most trains.

Bicycle shipping or rental are good alternatives to taking your bike with you on the train.

More information on bicycle shipping
More information on bike rental

• 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. 
• Some connections require reservation. Please pay attention to the notes and pictograms in the online timetable.
• You can find out how to make a reservation in the “Buying a bike space reservation” section.
• Please consider the forecast occupancy rate when choosing your connection. At weekends and during public holidays with good weather prospects, many travellers are on their way to or from their day trip destinations, especially between 7am and 9am and 4pm and 7pm. This means that space in public transport can become tight and bicycle transport cannot be guaranteed. For trains and Postbuses which require reservations, we recommend early booking.

Bicycle shipping or rental are good alternatives to taking your bike with you on the train.

More information on bicycle shipping
More information on bike rental

• 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.
• On trains which require reservations, a maximum of 9 bicycle spaces can be reserved at the same time. You may have to make your reservation in several steps.
• 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.

Bicycle shipping
Group tours from Rent a BikeLink opens in new window.

• See which sections of the platform the coaches with bicycle spaces (bicycle hooks, bicycle platforms) will arrive on the day of your journey. 
• For many connections, the online timetable and the SBB Mobile app both use a bicycle symbol to show the locations of these coaches.
• For trains which you have a reservation for, please pay attention to the coach number.

If you wish to take your bike with you on public transport, you can buy one of the tickets listed here for your bike for most routes. For all other routes, the conditions of the transport company in question apply.

Bicycles which do not fit in a normal bicycle rack or which are longer than 2 meters are classed as special cycles. Please note the provisions of the transport companies regarding whether and under what conditions the transport of special bicycles is permitted.

Reduced Point-to-Point Bike Ticket.

For short journeys, you can buy a Point-to-Point Bike Ticket.

Bike Day Pass.

For longer journeys, you can buy a Bike Day Pass for CHF 15. This is also available as a Multiple Day Bike Pass for 6 days of your choosing for CHF 90. 

Annual bike pass.

If you regularly travel by bike, the annual bike pass for CHF 260 per year is a practical solution. It will be integrated onto your SwissPass.

With the GA Travelcard for Children, children under the age of 16 years can take their bikes with them free of charge – even if they are unaccompanied.

For connections requiring reservation , you must purchase a bike space reservation in addition to the bicycle ticket.

A bike space reservation costs CHF 2 for all trains within Switzerland that require a reservation and can be booked up until shortly before the train departs.

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.

General provisions.

• No reservation is necessary for balance bikes and the bicycles of children younger than 6.
• 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 to passengers who have a reservation.
• 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. 
• 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. 
• You cannot buy bike space reservations for trains which do not have a bicycle reservation sign in the timetable.

• Please allow enough time for your arrival and for changing trains.
• If capacity is limited, please use an alternative connection.
• Please look out for those coach doors bearing the bicycle pictograms and use them to board with your bicycle.
• If you have a reservation, look for the coach number. 
• Passengers may only take one bike each.
• Please make sure that you are able to carry your bike or e-bike onto the train and, if necessary, secure it 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 reasons of safety, escape routes, entrances and exits and access to the locomotive crew’s cab must always be kept clear.
• 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.

The following types of bicycle count as hand luggage and do not require a ticket: 

• Folding bicycles, when folded up.
• Bike trailers.
• Bicycles of children younger than 6.
• Shopping carts (including those with a bicycle connection).
• (Electric) scooters, provided the largest wheel has a diameter of no more than 30cm or less than 12 inches.
• Bicycles packed in a transport bag with their front wheels detached.

For bicycles which have had their front wheels detached, use a specialised transport bag such as the TranZbag. Any transport bag is accepted regardless of the manufacturer provided that the front wheel that has been detached is placed in the carry bag and the cover is easily portable.

Here’s how it works.

• During your train journey, stow your packed bike with its front wheel removed under your seat, above your seat, or in the boarding 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.