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Travel On Train RE (Switzerland)
The type of train most often used on the double-deck RE services

RE (Switzerland)

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At a Glance

Travel Pass Supplement

Rail Pass Reservation Fees
Reservations

Not Available
Time of Day

Day
Accessibility

Accessing the train

Wheelchair Spaces
Bikes Allowed
Train Specification

Attributes of the train

Double Deck
Has a Conductor
Country

Which country these trains operate in.

Switzerland
Travel Passes
Eurail
InterRail
Swiss Travel Pass
Saver Day Pass
Close up of the coaches used for the double deck services Close up of the coaches used for the double deck services
The view from the upper deck of another RE train The view from the upper deck of another RE train
The 1st class interior of a single deck train being used on a RE service The 1st class interior of a single deck train being used on a RE service
A lower deck 1st class saloon, note the route info screen A lower deck 1st class saloon, note the route info screen

Travel summary:

Regional Express (RE) is a term used by Swiss national rail operator SBB for its mid and longer distance stopping* train services.
So multiple different specific trains are used, including both single-deck and double-deck variants.

These RE services are a mid-point between local trains, including the S-Bahn services in cities, and the faster IR (InterRegio) services.
*At the city end of their routes, these RE tend to skip some stations that the local-S-Bahn trains call at.

An anomaly of train travel in Switzerland is that more modern trains are used for these RE services, than are used for many of the faster IR or express IC services.
Though the trains used for the RE services don't have any catering facilities or Wi-fi portals and most don't have power sockets.

On most of the trains used for RE services the difference in ambience between 1st and 2nd class isn't particularly stark.
However, as the RE services are popular with commuters, a plus of booking 1st class is the much greater likelihood of seats being available at rush hours.

Key routes:

Single deck trains are usually used on these RE routes:
(1) Locarno - Lugano - Chiasso (Milano)
(2) Annemasse - Geneve - Lausanne - Vevey - Montruex - Bex - Aigle St Maurice

Double deck trains are usually used on these routes from Bern:
from Bern:

  • to Biel/Bienne
  • to Olten via Burgdorf

And on these routes from Zurich:

  • to Schaffhausen via Bulach
  • to Aarau
  • to Chur (calling at the stations skipped by the IC services)
hand-money

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