Zurich and Basel are comparatively close to each other, so it's no surprise that they are connected by express trains which depart at least once, but often twice per hour.
What is unusual about this route is that it's also taken by three international services, which travel beyond Basel:
(1) the ICE trains on the Zurich - Basel - Frankfurt - Hamburg route.
(2) EC trains from Zurich to north-west Germany
(3) TGV Lyria trains on the Zurich - Basel - Paris route.
However, when booking tickets for these express trains, or using rail passes on this route within Switzerland, it doesn't matter whether you take an Swiss express IC train, or one of these international trains; ; it is the demand per departure which impacts on the ticket prices and not the type of train being used.
Though if you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, you'll likely save money by taking one of the alternative IR services, they're cheaper, but slower; though by around only 20 minutes.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
53 min
Daily
1 - 2 x trains per hour
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