I have a long term Swiss RailPass, but plan a short hub stay at a hotel in Annemasse over the border in France. Annemasse is a short 6 stop tram stop on the "Rue de Geneve" tram just across from Geneva, Switzerland. Most of my day trips are into Switzerland, although I am staying in a French suburb of Geneva.

How do I buy the ticket for the 6 stops over the tram line from Geneva once passing over to France? I don't want to incur any fines. Can I buy a 6 stop round trip ticket at the tram stop auto pay or else how do I do that?

Thank you so much for your helpful response. I didn't realize there is a lot of resentment in Geneva regarding France.

I'll have a 22 day Swiss RailPass that I understand covers all trains and trams in Switzerland. Do I still have to buy a Zone 10 (2 separate zones) for Geneva, or can I get by just with a zone 82 for Annemasse?

Thanks again.

It was surprising to read on a EF post that the tram from Geneva into adjoining Annemasse in France stops at the border --- requiring a tram change --- due to bad feeling between the people of Geneva and of France.
Just curious, what is the source of this animus? Why are they not bonded by a common language?

Ok, but the residents of Geneva probably cross over into suburban towns in France as do the residents of France into Geneva --- so why does the transport line not allow a seamless (continuous) journey without a change of vehicles?

A poster on another thread on EF wrote that it was because of animosity between southwest Switzerland (Geneva) and France. My question is: what is the dispute about? Why are the grievances between the residents of Geneva and surrounding French areas?

here is the link

http://www.tpg.ch/tarifs-regionaux

First of all the Tram line 12 doesn't cross the border into France. Given the anti-French feeling in Geneva, I doubt the tram line will ever be extended to Annemasse like the Tram line 8 in Basel that is being extended to German suburb of Basel (Weil am Rhein).

Regarding your ticket: Both Geneva and neighboring France are part of Unireso transportation network. Geneva is in Zone 10 and Annemasse in Zone 82. You will need to buy a ticket valid for 3 zones as zone 10 is actually counted as 2 zones. A 3-zone ticket costs Fr. 4.80 or 4 €. and is valid 2 hours.

In Geneva, buy your ticket at any of the vending machines. Select "3 Zones" and pay with Swiss or Euro coins. You won't need to buy another ticket once in France. From downtown Geneva, take Tram 12 to Moillesullaz, get out at the very last stop, walk 50 feet cross the border and take TAC bus line 1 or 2 just on the other side of the border.

From Annemasse to Geneva, you need to buy your 3-zone Unireso ticket at any kiosk "Tabac". Tickets are also available from the bus driver. For security reasons, you can only pay with Euro coins or 5 or 10 € notes.

I'm quite confused by the above posts. The tram doesn't go to Annemasse, therefore you don't require any ticket for Annemasse! If you have a Swiss rail Pass (AG), then this covers all transportation in Switzerland including Geneva trams and buses. Unireso zones are relevant for buses only, if you get a bus from Geneva which continues on to Annemasse, you need a ticket to cover the part of the journey which is in Annemasse. If you get on the bus in Annemasse, just buy the ticket there before boarding.

[QUOTE=Dack Rambo;1760330]Unireso zones are relevant for buses onlyQUOTE] That's not true. Unireso zones are also relevant to trains. For exemple regional train from Geneva to Coppet...

Your pass will certainly be valid on the tram to the border. I suspect the pass is not valid on the Annemasse buses (TAC).

i doubt it from any dispute as such, but you have to remember you are going to a different country so of course you should have to stop.

given the choice i would get off before i got to annemasse anyway

It is possible to buy a ticket in central Geneva that covers central Geneva (zone 10), along the lake towards Nyon (zones 21,22, 90) and various other zones in neighbouring France (81 to 89).
So you can buy a two-hour ticket in Geneva that covers you for travel into France easily at any ticket machine or (in some cases) on the bus itself. The same in France, either from a machine or the driver.

For example; The D runs from Bel-Air in Geneva to Saint Julien (and onto Vitam-parc-Neydens on certain days) without needing to change buses, and you can also travel on as far as Valleiry by changing in Saint Julien on to the Dn shuttle bus. The 4 takes you across the french border at Perly and picks up there as well.
Both buses are run by, funded and staffed by the Transports Public de Geneve.