SWISS and SBB add St. Gallen, Locarno and Konstanz to Air Rail network
Swiss Air and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) expanded the Swiss Air Rail service on 27 October 2025, adding St. Gallen, Locarno and Konstanz as integrated rail-air destinations under a single booking. Ticket sales began 16 October 2025, with the expansion bringing the network to 24 destinations across Switzerland and selective cross-border points.
SWISS Air Rail combines rail and air travel on one reservation, allowing passengers to use their boarding pass as a train ticket. The service maps SWISS Business and First Class tickets to first-class rail travel, while Economy and Premium Economy passengers can pay to upgrade. Within Switzerland, tickets are valid one day before or after the flight date, with a minimum 70-minute connection time at Zürich Airport required.
Direct airport services and journey times
All three new cities are served by direct trains to and from Zürich Airport. St. Gallen is connected via direct IC and IR services with journey times of approximately 47–55 minutes. Konstanz in Germany is served by direct IR75 trains, taking 58–83 minutes. Locarno connections currently require a change at Zürich main station, with journey times of approximately 2 hours 27 minutes to 2 hours 47 minutes, though SWISS states direct airport service applies from 27 October.
The network does not offer baggage check-in at rail stations. Passengers must use SBB’s paid luggage services if needed or check bags at the airport. Seat reservations are included automatically only on Bregenz and Munich routes.
Why it matters:
The expansion positions SWISS and SBB as an intermodal benchmark alongside Lufthansa’s Express Rail network, which serves 28 German cities. The steady scaling from 17 destinations in May 2024 to 21 in September 2024 and now 24 demonstrates sustained national rollout with cross-border capability. The service shifts short-haul feeder traffic from air to rail while protecting long-haul connectivity at Zürich Airport.
What’s next:
Further expansion on the Geneva side remains possible after 2024 additions including Vevey, Montreux, Sion, Sierre and Visp. Industry attention will focus on uptake rates and operational reliability as the network scales.