PostBus, the nation’s postal bus service, receives government aid based on its financial performance. With around 2,200 bright yellow buses operating on around 900 routes, it forms an important part of Switzerland’s transport network and employs around 4,000 people. However, not long after the private PostBus company was created in 2006, it started manipulating its […]
Late trains – Switzerland’s delay hotspots
The cliché of Swiss trains always being on time is challenged by data published on the website opentransportdata.swiss. Analysis of this data by 20 Minuten, shows the most frequently delayed trains arrive from Italy. Mendrisio, near the Italian border in the canton of Ticino, was the worst performing station with 30% of trains delayed by […]
Spring weather set to bring heavy traffic over May’s long weekends
When sunshine combines with public holidays, Swiss roads grind to a crawl. May has three weekends extended by public holidays: Ascension (10 May), Pentecost (20 and 21 May) and Corpus Christi (31 May). All three are likely to bring freeway frustration. Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) warns drivers to expect delays on the A2, particularly […]
Swiss trains ranked best in Europe
The 2017 European Railway Performance Index placed Switzerland number one with a score of 7.2 out of 10. The index, produced by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), looks at intensity of use, quality of service and safety. A score of 7.2 places Switzerland in tier 1 alongside Denmark (6.8), Finland (6.6), Germany and Austria (6.1), […]
Swiss traffic misery – worst traffic days of the year
If you thought you’d beat Switzerland’s traffic by leaving on Good Friday (30 March 2018) you’ll be disappointed. The two worst days for traffic in the first quarter of this year are Good Friday and the day before it – 29 March 2018. This map shows Easter traffic hotspots. Traffic predictor Via Suisse has four […]
Geneva International Motor Show visitor numbers down in 2018
The Geneva International Motor Show ended this evening. Compared to 2017, the number of visitors was down. Putting a positive spin on the decline, the organizer pointed out that fewer people and more space in the car park made visiting a better experience. The number of attendees in 2018 was down by 4.5% to 660,000, […]
Driverless buses spotted in Geneva
Last Friday two driverless vehicles painted with the TPG’s logo, the acronym for Geneva’s public transport, were spotted at Palexpo, the location of the Geneva International Motor Show. Le Salon de l’auto en mode autonome ! Profitez de votre visite au Salon pour peut-être avoir l’occasion de monter à bord du véhicule autonome des tpg […]
Plan to increase fines for cyclists in Switzerland
If you run a red light in a car it costs CHF 250. On a bike it costs CHF 60. Other cycling fines, such as riding with no hands on the handlebar (CHF 20) and riding on the pavement (CHF 40) are also comparatively low. Hans-Peter Portmann, a federal councillor from Zurich wants this changed, […]
Geneva Motor Show 2018 – the problem with electric cars
The Geneva International Motor Show 2018 opens in two days. Running from 8 until 18 March 2018, the show will present close to 180 exhibitors. This year the focus is on electric cars. Electrification of transport offers the hope of lower emissions, however there is a huge challenge that many are only starting to seriously […]
Geneva Motor Show 2018 – fewer fawning females
Car shows are well-known for their use of women as display decoration. This was highly evident at last year’s show. However a lot has happened in a year and the number of mini-skirted young women fawning over glistening cars has declined sharply. A quick scan of Instagram (#gims) on this year’s show reveals very few […]
