For any given station 'Abfahrt' schedule published by the SBB, will that same schedule also apply on holidays, like Christmas, NYE, etc.? In other words, even on holidays, the SBB basically does not skip a beat.

I expect there would be a reduced service on those days or no trains running at all. The schedule will usually say if a service isn't available on certain days.

Dec 24 and Dec 31 are normal workdays here in switzerland, the sbb service
will run as a saturday, Dec 25, 26 and Jan 01st are public holidays, the service
of the sbb will run like a sunday.

"The Schedule" has all sorts of asterisks and notes to cover Sundays and holidays, so from that perspective the schedule applies to all days, but obviously the service is going to be different from the workweek one on those days. Using the SBB App/Website is probably the easiest way to plan a trip as long as you're not doing it too soon in advance.

There are never no trains running at all (except during certain hours of the night maybe). As other have said, public holidays are treated as sundays and sunday schedules are operated. This includes 25th December etc.

The only reason for no trains at all to run is if there are major engineering works in progress. These are typically announced well in advance and the period of disruption kept to a minimum (typically evening hours), with a bus replacement service operated to as close to the train schedule as possible, and / or trains run via alternative routes if such exist. This is normally announced on posters at the stations concerned weeks if not months in advance and the online schedules are also modified to reflect this.

The only other reason that trains ever stop running is when something unexpected happens. Such as for example an accident or a flood. In these situations too SBB do their best to keep disruption to a minimum and trains are diverted via other routes or replacement buses put on as fast as practicable.

Thanks all. Quite informative.

(BTW, how does one "thank" a post within the EF?)

There should be a little Thanks thumbs up button in the bottom far right of the text box.


If you are a newbie, it may not have shown up until you hit 10 posts. Which you now have!


Kind regards




Iab

Turns out train cancellations are increasing due to shortage of drivers

They have all moved to the UK to take advantage of Bozo’s 3 month visa scheme. They are uniquely qualified as Swiss trains drive on the wrong side of the road.

Because the British built the Swiss railways (well British engineers were involved early on).