Swiss public-transport fares will rise by an average of 3.6% in December 2026, less than the 3.9% increase originally planned. The reduction follows negotiations between the industry and Switzerland’s price regulator.
The price of a second-class GA travelcard, which provides unlimited travel on much of the Swiss public-transport network, will rise by CHF 100 to CHF 4,095. Alliance SwissPass, the industry body, had initially proposed an increase of CHF 200. A first-class GA will cost CHF 6,770, up from CHF 6,520. The original proposal was CHF 6,850. The increase has thus been cut from CHF 330 to CHF 250.
Alliance SwissPass said the higher fares were still needed to offset inflation and rising costs for staff, energy, materials and maintenance.
Other increases announced in March will remain unchanged. The adult Half Fare Travelcard will cost CHF 5 more, while the bonus offered with Half Fare Travelcard Plus credit packages will remain the same.
Prices for children, teenagers and families will either be unchanged or rise only slightly. SBB, the national railway operator, also plans to expand the availability of saver tickets. Discounts worth a total of CHF 90m are planned for 2027. Regional public-transport associations set their fares independently.
First increase since 2023
The changes will mark Switzerland’s first nationwide public-transport fare increase since 2023. Before then, fares had been unchanged for seven years. At the end of 2023 prices rose by an average of 3.7%. Alliance SwissPass had initially sought an increase of 4.3%, before the price regulator intervened. The main dispute concerned the GA travelcard. Stefan Meierhans, the price regulator, ultimately negotiated a 3.5% increase for the second-class GA, rather than the 5.7% originally proposed.
Compared to inflation
Since the 2023 fare increase, cumulative consumer-price inflation has been just under 2%, making the planned 3.6% rise comparatively steep. However, the fare increases of 2023 and 2026 combined will lift prices by a cumulative 7.4% since 2016, still below the roughly 9.3% increase in consumer prices over the same 10-year period.
More on this:
Alliance Swisspass article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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