In Switzerland, is it required to purchase a train ticket for your canine companion?
Trains in Switzerland can be a bit of a pain, especially if you're a dog owner. It'snot just the clueless commuters causing confusion, but also the inconsistent practices of some controllers. As reported in Swiss media, some passengers have been let off the hook for not having a ticket for their pup, while others have been slapped with a fine.
"The inspectors seem to be navigating blindly," according to the report. So whether or not you have to pay "depends on who is checking the tickets". But don't worry, SBB, the national rail company, actually has rules in place for dog companions.
Here's the lowdown:
According to SBB, dogs of any size traveling in passenger carriages or luggage vans must always pay second-class half fare or the stipulated minimum fare, if there is one. Dogs should ideally sit under your seat so that passage is not blocked for other passengers. However, for those tiny pups (up to 30 cm tall), they can travel for free as hand luggage, as long as they are in a transport box, basket, or other animal-friendly container and placed under your seat. But once they're out of their container, you'll need to spring for a separate ticket.
Assistance dogs and working dogs, on the other hand, can ride for free. These include guide dogs, mobility support dogs, diabetes and epilepsy alert dogs, hearing dogs, and more. Working dogs like service dogs, search dogs, rescue dogs, avalanche and disaster dogs are also covered. The only requirement is that the owner must have the Pass for Working Dogs, available at staffed public transport points of sale.
Additionally, if you travel often with your pooch (and if he or she doesn't fit into any of the above exemption categories), you can purchase a monthly or annual Dog Pass for 60 or 350 francs, respectively.
For the full scoop on Switzerland's train rules, check out our article: LITTLE-KNOWN SWISS TRAIN RULES YOU NEED TO KNOW.
- Regarding pet travel on Swiss trains, SBB's rules state that dogs of any size traveling in passenger carriages or luggage vans need to pay a half fare, with certain exceptions for small dogs under 30 cm that can travel as hand luggage for free if in an appropriate container.
- Assistance dogs and working dogs like guide dogs, mobility support dogs, diabetes and epilepsy alert dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, search dogs, rescue dogs, avalanche and disaster dogs are exempt from train fares in Switzerland, provided the owner has the Pass for Working Dogs.
- If you frequently travel with your pet and it doesn't fit into any of the above exemption categories, you can purchase a monthly or annual Dog Pass for 60 or 350 francs, respectively.
- Interestingly, the practices of train controllers in Switzerland seem inconsistent, as reported in Swiss media, with some passengers receiving exemptions while others are fined for their pets not having tickets.
