The draft 2027 timetable for Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) introduces a series of targeted improvements designed to benefit both commuters and leisure travelers. Among the key highlights are new weekend mountain connections from Geneva Airport and additional international connections.
Following the major timetable overhaul introduced in northwestern Switzerland in December 2025, the next timetable change, effective December 13, 2026, focuses on selective service enhancements, particularly for leisure travel.
Expanded Switzerland–Italy Services
Travelers will benefit from two direct daily trains between Zurich and Venice in each direction, doubling the previous offer. An existing Zurich–Lugano service will now continue through to Venice.
However, the current Basel–Lucerne–Milan service will terminate in Lugano due to limited rail path availability. The return direct Milan–Basel service via Lucerne will however remain in operation.
The daily Zurich–Florence route will now terminate in Bologna. During the summer season, the service will extend to Rimini, offering direct rail access to Italy’s Adriatic coast.
Meanwhile, the Zurich–La Spezia service via Genoa will operate daily year-round, although the seasonal weekend extension to Livorno will be discontinued.
France Connections Strengthened
Beginning April 5, 2027, three daily TGV services will once again operate in each direction between Lausanne and Paris via Geneva.
A new TER regional service operated by SNCF between Geneva and Lyon will reduce travel times by approximately 10 minutes from April 2027. The service will operate once daily in each direction on weekdays and twice daily on weekends, improving onward connections to southern France.
Improved Reliability on German Routes
On the Zurich–Stuttgart corridor, additional schedule buffer time will be introduced on the German section of the route in an effort to improve punctuality. Deutsche Bahn and SBB say they continue to evaluate further operational measures to enhance reliability.
New-Generation Nightjet Trains
From the December 2026 timetable change, next-generation Nightjet trains are expected to operate on the Zurich–Amsterdam route.
This follows the introduction of the upgraded overnight trains on the Zurich–Hamburg line in December 2025 and the Zurich–Vienna service from June 2026, bringing enhanced comfort to passengers on three major overnight routes.
Domestic Night Services Continue
Since December 2024, SBB has been testing the market potential for domestic night trains aimed at night travelers and airline passengers.
Early results from services operating in both French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland have been positive. If demand remains strong, weekend night services will continue operating on the Bern–Olten–Zurich HB (–Zurich Airport), Fribourg/Freiburg–Lausanne–Geneva Airport, Sion–Lausanne–Geneva Airport and Biel/Bienne–Lausanne routes, with onward connections to Geneva Airport.
SBB says the night services continue to attract solid passenger numbers, particularly during weekends and peak leisure travel periods.
