I took my 3 year old children on the train the other day, bought a ticket for me from the machine and got on the train.

It was only then I thought - Do they need a ticket? No they are too young I thought, but then I thought they may need a ticket at zero value?

Secondly, at what age must you pay for a child on a train.

Well if I'm not wrong I think you would have to pay when the Child turns 7.
There also is a "Familien Ticket" from the SBB which cost 20 Francs a Year and the Kids go free on the Trains if a Parent is with them. In Basel this also applies to the Trams.

I would not be surprised if you had to pay even when the child was just a glint-in-the-milkman's-eye.

dave

Children under 6 don't need a ticket when accompanied by an adult (tempting as it is sometimes to just put them on a train). I haven't had my ticket checked often, but a couple of times when it has happened, the conductor has, with great ceremony, pulled out a special ticket for my 2 year old to hold. It obviously doesn't mean anything, but my daughter has been thrilled. Maybe it's just to get them used to having a ticket and turn them into law abiding citizens...

Up to 6 years the train/tram/bus/cablecar ride is free,unless it's otherwise stated.
From 6 to 16 years old children pay in general the half price of an adults ticket.

From 16 onwards are a few things to help the cost low,you could buy a 'halbtax' abonnement,or what pays off in our case is a yearly card for the regional trains and buses hereabouts (my eldest goes to her workplace and school by bus)

For more ionformation click here, this is the SBB's website about abonnements

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/abonnemente.htm

and here, this is about general info about tickets etc

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...es-billett.htm

You can buy a "Junior-Karte" for children 6-16 yrs for CHF 20.-. Then the child travels free of charge on all trains, trams buses, ships in Switzerland for one year.
However, it's only valid when travelling with paying parent.
It's not valid if your child goes on an outing with friends, grandparents etc.

Grooming .... Swiss stylee ....