For general information and definition of terms, refer to the main Border Crossings document.
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Go direct to border crossing information between Switzerland and Austria - France - Germany - Italy - Liechtenstein.
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Last update: 23 January 2009.
Note: Despite a common electrification system, different designs of overhead line and pantographs prevents through working by electric trains without special arrangements.
Until 2006, the Internationale Rheinregulierung (IRR) operated a works railway (43 km long, 750 mm gauge, electrified at 750V dc overhead) for construction and maintetance purposes for the River Rhein as it enters the Bodensee (Lake Constance). The association Verein Rhein- Schauen operates passenger trains over this railway, partially with steam engines. Normally only the section on the east side between Werkhof Lustenau and the lake is in used, but specials may operate on the rest of the remaining network. However the future for all but the first mentioned section is uncertain. There were three border crossings, listed below.
Mäder IRR - Kriessern IRR: [E] on a railway bridge over the Rhine for the quarry at Koblach. This crossing is no longer in use, the track is not complete south of the former Werkhof Widnau.
Lustenau Wiesenrain IRR - Widnau IRR: [E] on a combined road/railway steel bridge over the Rhein. Observed in use for special trains in 2007.
(Bregenz -) Lustenau Markt ÖBB - St Margarethen SBB: [E] ÖBB works local trains to St Margrethen. SBB works international trains to/from Lindau, using SBB Cargo Re 421 locomotives. These are 421 371 to 421 397 (formerly 11371 to 11397) all of which have a DB/ÖBB pantograph and the necessary safety systems.
Höchst Bruggerloch IRR - St.Margrethen IRR: [E] along the left-bank (i.e. west side) Rhein flood embankment (leading to the end of the embankment in Lake Constance).Observed in use for special trains in 2007, but the remaining usable track on the Austrian side is short.
Last update: 16 January 2010.
Notes:
(Mulhouse -) St Louis (Haut Rhin) SNCF - Basel St. Johann SBB (- Basel SBB): [E*] Bay platforms at the west end of Basel SBB are used by SNCF trains terminating or starting at Basel. These bays are electrified at 25 kV; the west end of the adjacent through platform is switchable, with a light display indicating '15' or '25' as appropriate. The SNCF platforms are accessed via buildings where frontier checks are undertaken. Dual-frequency multiple-units work local trains running through between Mulhouse and Pratteln and beyond. Long distance through trains between France and Switzerland are shunted between the two parts of the station by SBB dual-frequency shunting locomotives, except for the through Paris - Zürich TGVs which use only the Basel SBB platforms. Freight trains between France and goods yards in Basel are hauled by SNCF dual-frequency locomotives.
(Basel -) Flüh BLT - Leymen (France) - Rodersdorf BLT: [E] Metre gauge. The Baselland Transport tram route to Rodersdorf passes through France, where there is one stop at Leymen. Trams run on reserved track at this point, the line originally having been a railway, the Birsigtalbahn. This is officially a corridor service: there is a standard notice at Leymen station warning that "green channel" rules apply if you get on and off the tram.
(Belfort -) Delle SNCF - Boncourt CFF (- Delémont): [DE] Having closed on 1 June 1996, the line as far as Delle re-opened to CFF passenger services on 10 December 2006. There is no SNCF service between Delle and Belfort.
(Besançon -) Morteau SNCF - Le Locle Col des Roches CFF (- La Chaux de Fonds): [DE] SNCF works to Le Locle and provides the only train service at Le Locle Col-des-Roches, despite this being a CFF station.
(Pontarlier -) La Cluse et Mijoux SNCF - Les Verrières CFF (- Neuchâtel): [E*] The only cross-border passenger trains are multi-system TGVs running between Paris and cities in Switzerland. All of these run non-stop between Pontarlier and Neuchâtel. Any other trains are worked by CFF or BLS to and from Pontarlier.
(Frasne -) Les Tavins SNCF - Vallorbe CFF (- Lausanne): [E*] All daytime cross-border passenger trains are multi-system TGVs running between Paris and Lausanne. Overnight and freight trains are worked by SNCF to Vallorbe where tracks can be fed at 25kV 50Hz or 15kV 16.7Hz. The summit of the Simplon route from Paris to Milano is at Les Longevilles-Rochejan (897m above sea level) at the French end of the Mont d’Or tunnel, which crosses the border.
(Bellegarde -) Pougny-Chancy SNCF - La Plaine CFF (- Genève): [E*] SNCF works to Genève and the line is electrified at 1500 V dc and signalled to SNCF standards from the border to both the passenger station and La Praille goods depot. CFF operates a local service between Genève and La Plaine, using specially-built 1500 V dc rolling stock. Separate tracks, parallel with the 1500 V dc tracks, are used by CFF trains to and from Genève Aéroport. SNCF trains use their own platform at Genève, and passengers pass through frontier controls to access these. Most passenger trains from France terminate at Genève, though there a small number of through night trains. At Genève Cornavin station the electrification arrangements appear to be as follows. Platform 6 - at least - is switchable, and has been observed in use in quick succession by trains using SNCF and CFF voltages. Platforms 7 and 8 (the French side) are probably solely SNCF voltage - and also bay platform 5, used by CFF's La Plaine [- Bellegarde] shuttle. Platforms 1 to 3 will presumably be solely CFF voltage.
(Annemasse -) Ambilly SNCF - Genève Eaux Vives SNCF: [E] This is part of the SNCF system and operated by SNCF throughout using dual-frequency rolling stock, though the branch itself is electrified at 25kV 50Hz. There is no freight traffic. Frontier checks are normally carried out on the train.
(Evian-les-Bains -) St Gingolph SNCF - St Gingolph (Suisse) CFF (- Bouveret): [DE] This line was used by freight and by a summer-only tourist service; however no traffic has run since 1999 due to the poor condition of the track. CFF runs a limited passenger train service to St Gingolph (Suisse).
(Chamonix -) Vallorcine SNCF - Le Chatelard Frontière SNCF/MC (- Martigny MC): [E*] This is a metre-gauge line, electrified at 750V dc third rail on the SNCF line from St Gervais-les-Bains to Le Chatelard Frontiere and at 750V dc, mixed overhead and third-rail, on the Martigny-Chatelard line from Le Chatelard Frontier to Martigny. Until conversion of the MC to overhead was completed in 1997, this was the only international railway to be electrified with conductor rails both sides of the border. Both MC and SNCF have recently acquired new trains capable of running through between the two systems. Previously the two railways’ motor coaches were incompatible and through working was possible only by trailer vehicles.
Last update: 2 February 2007.
Notes:
Konstanz DB - Kreuzlingen SBB / Kreuzlingen Hafen SBB: [E] Mittel Thurgau Bahn operates through trains between Engen and Weinfelden, Rorschach and Romanshorn via Konstanz and Kreuzlingen. Passengers may be required to alight from the train at Konstanz and pass through a border control building on the station while the train runs empty from one end of the platform to the other. The east-facing curve towards Kreuzlingen Hafen has no passenger service.
(Singen -) Rielasingen DB - Ramsen SBB (- Etzwilen): [D] Line closed, but there is a project to re-open it as a heritage railway. See www.etzwilen-singen.ch.
(Singen -) Bietingen DB - Thayngen SBB (- Schaffhausen): [E] SBB works to and from Singen with trains via Zürich. DB works diesel Corridor Trains between Singen and Basel via Schaffhausen and Waldshut. Passengers joining or leaving trains at intermediate stations in Switzerland may be subject to checks. Trains between the Zürich line and Singen change from left-hand to right-hand running at Schaffhausen.
(Waldshut -) Erzingen (Baden) DB - Trasadingen DB (- Schaffhausen SBB): [D] DB works diesel Corridor Trains between Singen and Basel via Schaffhausen and Waldshut. Passengers joining or leaving trains at intermediate stations in Switzerland may be subject to checks.
(Eglisau -) Altenburg Rheinau SBB - Neuhausen SBB (- Schaffhausen): [E] SBB works all trains between Schaffhausen and Zürich. Passengers joining or leaving trains at intermediate stations in Germany may be subject to checks. It is not possible to travel between German stations on this line and other parts of Germany without undergoing border controls at Schaffhausen.
(Schaffhausen -) Lottstetten SBB - Rafz SBB (- Eglisau): see item above.
Waldshut DB - Koblenz SBB: [E] SBB electric trains work to Waldshut. All DB services from Waldshut are diesel-operated.
(Waldshut -) Grenzach DB - Basel Badischer Bf DB: [DE] see Germany - Switzerland headnotes regarding Basel Badischer Bf.
(Lörrach -) Lörrach-Stetten DB - Riehen (b Basel) DB (- Basel Badischer Bf DB): [E] see Germany - Switzerland headnotes regarding Basel Badischer Bf. Riehen (b Basel) is an unmanned station, but for customs purposes it is in Germany.
(Freiburg -) Weil (Rhein) DB - Basel Badischer Bf DB: [E] see Germany - Switzerland headnotes regarding Basel Badischer Bf.
Last update: 18 February 2008.
(Domodossola -) Iselle di Trasquera FS - Brig SBB: [E*] SBB and BLS work to Domodossola, where electric locomotives are shunted back to their own end of the station. Through freight trains change locomotive in sidings adjacent to Domodossola station. Those requiring remarshalling are worked to and from Domodossola Smistamento by SBB and BLS via an independent line electrified at 15kV 16.7Hz. FS owns the railway to Iselle di Trasquera, but operates no trains. Electrification equipment is to Italian design, with typical tubular masts, but energised at 15 kV 16.7 Hz.
(Domodossola -) Ribellasca SSIF - Camedo FART (- Locarno): [E] This metre-gauge railway is operated as a single entity by Societa Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie (SSIF, Italian company) and Ferrovie autolinee regionali ticinesi (FART, Swiss company), with through electric multiple units from end to end.
(Luino -) Pino-Tronzano FS - Ranzo-S Abbondio FFS (- Cadenazzo): [E*] FFS works to Luino, providing the only service at several stations in Italy. There are no through passenger trains at Luino.
(Cantello - Valmorea -) Ponte Lanza - Santa Margherita (- Stabio - Mendrisio): [D] Club del San Gottardo has operated a summer tourist service over this section of the former Ferrovia Mendrisio-Stabio since 1993.
(Milano -) Como S Giovanni FS - Chiasso FFS (- Lugano): [E*] FS works to Chiasso. Incoming locomotives are shunted off their trains, and there is no switching.
(Milano -) Cucciago FS - Chiasso FFS (- Lugano): [E*] (Como avoiding line) FS works to Chiasso. Incoming locomotives are shunted off their trains, and there is no switching.
Tirano RhB - Campocologno RhB (- St.Moritz): [E] This is the Rhätische Bahn metre gauge line, worked exclusively by that company.
Last update: 23 April 2004.
(Feldkirch -) Schaan-Vaduz ÖBB - Buchs SG SBB: [E] The railway in Liechtenstein is part of the ÖBB system. ÖBB works to Buchs.
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