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Travel On Train IR (Switzerland)
An IR service on the Brig - Geneve route

IR (Switzerland)

What to look out for when travelling by an IR (InterRegio) train service in 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

Has a Conductor
Country

Which country these trains operate in.

Switzerland
Travel Passes
Eurail
InterRail
Swiss Travel Pass
Saver Day Pass
Interior of a 2nd class coach Interior of a 2nd class coach
An IR train has arrived in Erstfeld An IR train has arrived in Erstfeld
Some IR services in Switzerland use double-decked coaches Some IR services in Switzerland use double-decked coaches
The First Class seating on a single deck IR train The First Class seating on a single deck IR train
The 1st class seating saloon on a single deck train The 1st class seating saloon on a single deck train
These new Twindexx trains are also being used on some IR routes These new Twindexx trains are also being used on some IR routes

IR trains travel guide:

Inter-Regio (IR) is used to designate a service of trains within Switzerland and not a specific train - in fact multiple different types of train are used for IR departures.

As will be seen below, there is also some variety in the types of IR services, some of them are in effect fast commuter services, but others are seemingly very similar to the express IC services that operate between Swiss cities.

On board (all IR services):

There are two not particularly obvious criteria, which set all IR services apart from the IC express train services which operate in Switzerland.

On the IR services:

(1) The restaurant cars aren't available
(2) It isn't possible to reserve seats

Also regardless of what train is being used for an IR service:

(1) It will not have a bar/bistro counter (if it happens to be included in a train's formation, it won't be available to passengers).
(2) No wi-fi portal will be available.

Specific notes of what you can expect on board have been included on the guides below to the main routes taken by these IR services.

The long-distance IR services:

Different types of train are used on each specific long-distance route taken by the IR services, hence this guide below:

Route 13 and 70:
Luzern - Zug - Zurich HB - Zurich Flughafen - St Gallen - St Margrathen - Buchs - Landquart - Chur

All departures are now formed of modified versions of the new Twindexx trains.
The key difference with the trains used on the IC routes, is that these IR services don't have restaurant cars.

Route 15:
Geneve Aeroport - Geneve - Lausanne - Fribourg - Bern - Luzern
and
Route 90:
Geneve Aeroport - Geneve - Lausanne - Montreux - Aigle - Martigny - Sion - Visp - Brig

On some departures the trains used have the same single-deck IV coaches, as those that can be found on some express IC services.
The first class coaches on these trains, usually have power sockets, which only accept Swiss 3-pin plugs.
Also on these trains the difference between 1st class and 2nd class is particularly noticeable.

On other departures the double-deck IC 2000 coaches are now used.

Regardless of the train used a catering trolley may be pushed through the train offering an at-seat service of hot/cold drinks and snacks; only available on the upper deck on the double deck coaches.

Route 26:
Basel - Olten - Luzern - Ath Goldau - Fluelen - Goschenen - Faido - Bellinzona - Locarno
Route 46:
Zurich - Zug - Ath Goldau - Fluelen - Goschenen - Faido - Bellinzona - Locarno

These two routes are no longer operated by SBB and have been taken over by SOB; though SBB tickets and rail passes can can be used on the new Traverso trains, now deployed by SOB.
No catering is available on these trains, but one plus is that they have been designed with passengers requiring mobility assistance front of mind; they have low floors for easy boarding and wheelchair spaces are also available.

When SBB managed these routes some departures included 1st class observation cars, but they're inevitably not available on these Traverso trains and it seems as though they're now not used on any IR service.

Route 75:
Luzern - Zug - Zurich HB - Zurich Flughafen - Konstanz

The double-deck IC 2000 coaches are used on most departures, but some departures have single deck coaches.

Bicycles:

If you will be travelling with a non-folding bike, look for the bike symbols by the doors to the coaches equipped with bike racks.

All of these trains used for IR services are fitted with bike storage spaces.
Though as these trains can be up to 12 coaches long being at the station early to work out where to wait for easy boarding is recommended.

On the SBB trains a day bike pass costs CH 14 and they can be booked onlinehere.
The only other bike ticket available is a short-distance single journey ticket, which costs half the Adult fare.

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