Switzerland’s national railway company, SBB, will offer additional routes during the summer to several holiday destinations in neighbouring Italy and France — although the trips may not be without complications.
Let’s begin with France
From June 28th to August 24th, 2025, sun worshippers can travel directly to Avignon and Marseille with the TGV Lyria from Lausanne and Geneva.
From there, it is easy to catch local trains to various other destinations in the South of France, according to SBB.
For instance, if you want to reach Antibes, change in Avignon or Marseille; alternatively, from Geneva you can arrive in this resort via Lyon Part Dieu.
These trains will supplement the standard year-round routes between Switzerland and Paris, Lyon, and Dijon.
and Italy…?
The travel will not, however, be as smooth towards Italy
You will get there eventually, but not without certain disruptions along the way.
Trains will operate despite extensive construction work on the rail infrastructure in Italy.
From June 1st to September 28th, a direct train will run daily between Zurich, Genoa, and Sestri Levante on Italy’s Mediterranean coast.
However, due to roadworks on the Italian side of the border, the Eurocity (EC) train from Zurich to Bologna will not run during this time — that is, from June 1st to September 28th, 2025.
Alternatively, from June 8th until September 28th, the EC train will be extended daily to Pisa, connecting Genoa and Sestri Levante.
But that’s not all: works on the Simplon line between Domodossola and Milan mean that from June 8th to July 27th and from August 31st to September 12th, 2025, the section between the two cities will be closed.
“To allow French-speaking customers to still travel to Italy this summer, SBB, in cooperation with Trenitalia, is operating replacement buses from Geneva to Martigny to Milan,” the SBB said.
The company advises passengers to travel, whenever possible, on weekdays and reserve their seats well in advance.
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What other disruptions should you expect this summer?
In Switzerland, the Bern–Fribourg line will be closed from June 27th to August 25th. A replacement bus service will be in service.
On the line between Basel and Biel/Bienne, buses will also replace trains between Aesch and Laufen until the end of September.
Interruptions between Camnago and Seregno in Lombardy will take place on August 16th and 17th; EC trains will therefore be canceled between Chiasso and Milan on these two days.
Overall, the SBB is eager to offer more international train routes — and not just to neighbour countries but farther afield as well.
You can find more about these plans here:
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