• BLS - BLS AG provides services near Bern
• SBB – Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (formally SBB CFF FFS Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses, Ferrovie federali svizzere) Swiss Federal Railway
• SP – Schweizer Privatbahnen (Swiss Private Railways) – this covers many smaller operators
• BSB/VSU - Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe / Vereinigten Schifffahrtsunternehmen für den Bodensee und Rhein (See separate entry for Lake Constance)

Ticket purchasing (all carriers)

In general, you may use FIP coupons and buy single, return and round-trip tickets tickets with the FIP Card for travel without restriction on rail services (exceptions below).

FIP discounted tickets must be purchased in advance of boarding a train or ship. FIP discounted tickets cannot be bought on board. Passengers without tickets will be issued with a Penalty Fare.

In some locations, tickets must be stamped in platform ticket validation equipment before boarding a train.

Discounted ticket purchase online and at TVMs

Self Service purchase is available online from the SBB Online Portal or at Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs). Use the Half Fare option to obtain the 50% reduction.

In urban areas a request for a ticket from one specific station to another may result in a ticket to or from a Zonal destination. The ticket may cover other carriers (e.g. trams) which are not in the FIP scheme, as the ticket can be used by Swiss Half Fare Card holders. With an FIP Card you can only use the ticket on the services of the companies within the FIP scheme.

Children on BLS AG services

For public fares, children up to 6 years old travel free. Children up to 16 years old are eligible for a 50% reduction on the adult fare. Persons aged 16 and older pay the adult fare.

BLS AG Boundary points

The following table supplied by BLS AG defines the boundaries of FIP availability across the BLS AG railway network.

General information

FIP facilities are valid on all rail and bus services provided by BLS (including Busland AG) and BLS Schifffahrt services on Lake Thun (German: Thunersee) and Lake Brienz (German: Brienzersee).

FIP discounted tickets may not be purchased on-board trains. A penalty fare will be levied if passengers do not have a valid ticket.

BLS FIP coupons and FIP discounted tickets are not valid on:

• funicular railways and cable cars
• vehicle transport in Simplon tunnel (Brig <> Iselle di Trasquera)
• vehicle transport in Lötschberg tunnel (Kandersteg <> Goppenstein).

Children on SBB services

For public fares, children up to 6 years old travel free. Children up to 16 years old are eligible for a 50% reduction on the adult fare. Persons aged 16 and older pay the adult fare.

SBB Boundary points

The following table supplied by SBB defines the boundaries of both SBB and SP FIP availability across the network in Switzerland.

General information

Only SP coupons are valid on the line between Domodossola and Locarno as it is operated by Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie.

Holders of FIP free coupons and FIP discounted tickets travelling on EC trains between Switzerland and Italy or on cross-border TGV services must pay the full supplement.

Seat reservations are mandatory on EC trains (requiring the payment of a supplement) and on all TGV trains.

FIP discounted tickets may not be purchased on-board trains. A penalty fare will be levied if passengers do not have a valid ticket.

FIP facilities are not valid on bus services operated by SBB unless they are providing a temporary rail replacement service.

Map provided by SBB covering their services in Switzerland on which FIP facilities are valid

Children on SP services

For public fares, children up to 6 years old travel free. Children up to 16 years old are eligible for a 50% reduction on the adult fare. Persons aged 16 and older pay the adult fare.

Buying tickets

FIP discounted tickets must be purchased in advance of travel and cannot be purchased on-board trains.

SP rail and bus operators

SP Boundary points

The following table supplied by SP defines the boundaries of FIP availability across the SP railway and bus network in Switzerland.

Summary notes for Interlaken and the Jungfrau area

Most companies operating services from Interlaken to the Jungfrau area are owned by Jungfraubahn AG which comprises formerly independent operators BGF, BLM, BOB, HB, JB, WAB.

SP FIP coupons and FIP fares are available on these routes:

• BOB Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald
• WAB Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen via Kleine Schiedegg and Wengen
• BLM Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp (cable car)
• BLM Grütschalp to Murren (railway)
• JB Eiger Express cableway from Grindelwald to Eigergletscher.

On the following services FIP discounted fares are available but SP FIP coupons are not accepted:

• BGF Grindelwald–First (gondola)
• BOB Wilderswil–Schynige Platte (railway)
• HB Interlaken – Harder Kulm (funicular)
• JB Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch (railway)

FIP facilities are not valid on:

• Heimwehfluhbahn funicular from Interlaken to Heimwehfluh
• Luftseilbahn Wengen-Männlichen
• Gondelbahn Grindelwald-Männlichen, (GGM)
• Seilbahn Mürren-Allmendhubel (SMA)
• Luftseilbahn Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn (LSMS)

Summary notes for Zermatt to Gornergrat

On the service between Zermatt and Gornergrat operated by Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) FIP discounted fares are available, but FIP coupons are not accepted.

Summary notes for the Glacier Express

The Glacier Express on the St Moritz – Chur – Andermatt – Brig - Zermatt route is operated jointly by Rhätische Bahn (RhB) and the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB). In the summer months there is more than one service per day and some start and end at Chur and Brig.

SP FIP coupons can be used and FIP discounted fares are available, but reservations are compulsory for travel on Glacier Express trains.

Reservations can be made through International Rail. Advance recommendatations are strongly recommended as specific trains are often sold out several weeks in advance.

Other RhB services not branded as Glacier Express operate on the St Moritz – Chur – Andermatt – Brig - Zermatt route and can be used with FIP coupons and FIP discounted tickets without reservation.

Summary notes for the Bernina Express

The Bernina Express between Chur and Tirano (Italy) is operated by Rhätische Bahn (RhB). In summer months there is more than one service per day.

SP FIP coupons can be used and FIP discounted fares are available, but supplements are payable for travel on the Bernina Express.

Reservations and supplements can be made through International Rail. Advance recommendatations are strongly recommended as specific trains are often sold out several weeks in advance.

Other RhB services not branded as Bernina Express operate on the Chur - Tirano route and can be used with FIP coupons and FIP discounted tickets without reservation.

Summary notes for the Treno Panoramico Vigezzo Vision

The Treno Panoramico Vigezza Vision is operated by Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi (FART) and Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie (SSIF) on the Domodossola – Càmedo – Locarno route.

SP FIP coupons and FIP discounted fares are available, but reservations are compulsory for travel.

Summary notes for the Rigi Mountain Railways (Rigi Bahnen)

FIP discounted travel with the FIP International Reduced Rate Card and free travel with a FIP Coupon on the following stretches of route:

• Vitznau – Rigi Kulm (rack railway)
• Goldau – Rigi Kulm (rack railway)
• Weggis – Rigi Kaltbad (cable car)
• Kräbel – Rigi Scheidegg (cable car)

FIP facilities are not valid on other Rigi Bahnen services, including:

• Obergschwend – Rigi Burggeist (cable car)
• Küssnacht – Seebodenalp (cable car)
• Vitznau – Hinterbergen (cable car)
• Vitznau – Wissifluh (cable car)
• Brunnen – Urmiberg (cable car)

Boat services (car ferries excepted) are provided by SP operators on

• Lake Geneva (French: Lac Leman, German: Genfersee)
• Lake Lucerne (French: lac des Quatre-Cantons, German: Vierwaldstättersee)
• Lake Zürich (German: Zürichsee)

SP Boat operators

• BSG - Bielersee-Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft
• CGN - Compagnie générale de navigation (Lac Léman (Lake Geneva))
• LNM - Société navigation sur les Lacs du Neuchâtel et Morat
• SGV - Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersee
• ZSG - Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft

SP shipping Boundary points

The following table supplied by SP defines the boundaries of FIP availability across the SP shipping services in Switzerland.

Pilatus Railway (Pilatusbahn)

Holders of the FIP- international reduced rate card for railway staff may get a 50% reduction when buying a ticket at Pilatusbahn counters.

Pilatusbahn is not a member of the FIP organisation and the offer of FIP discounted travel is a concession which may be withdrawn at any time and without notice.