Train paths

Annual timetable.

Railway operators must submit an application or order for specific passenger and freight paths to Swiss capacity allocation body. Deadlines are listed in the conditions for ordering paths published by Swiss capacity allocation bodyLink opens in new window. for each annual timetable.

Link opens in new window. (PDF, 99 KB) (PDF, 99 KB)This document is not barrier-free.Timetable Updates (JUP) 2024 (PDF, 97 KB)Link opens in new window. (PDF, 97 KB)This document is not barrier-free.
Timetable Updates (JUP) 2025 (PDF, 125 KB)Link opens in new window. (PDF, 125 KB)This document is not barrier-free.

Current timetable.

Railway operators can order train paths and feasibility studies using the ordering tools available for this purpose. Regardless of the type of service requested, the orders are processed on a first come, first served basis, i.e. based on the order in which requests are submitted to Infrastructure.

Ordering tool.

To order paths, railway operators can use the NeTS-AVIS tool. As soon as the operator signs the network-access agreement, the ordering tool is made available.

Derivation of Order Attributes Link opens in new window.

For freight services on the heavily used north-south axes, a train path catalogue is issued annually. The train path offers listed in the catalogue are designed to assist the railway companies when placing their orders. They are based on the transport companies' service concepts but also reflect the current capacity situation
Gotthard/Lötschberg remaining capacity.

The railway companies can also order train paths during the current timetable period in order to introduce new or modified services. In this case, however, they can only request the remaining capacities available. These are published periodically for freight services on the transit routes.

The train path catalogues and remaining capacities are published by Swiss capacity allocation bodyLink opens in new window..

This section contains some useful documents to help request, plan and operate cross-border train services.

Map showing Swiss border crossing points.

Map of Switzerland showing the position of all 17 border crossing points to France, Germany, Liechtenstein/Austria and Italy.

Map (PDF, 164 KB)Link opens in new window. (PDF, 164 KB)This document is not barrier-free.

Regulations for train path requests at border railway stations.

With the document “Rules for border stations”, Swiss capacity allocation body is regulating whether a train path request should take the form of:

a Swiss national train path request
a national train path request to a foreign infrastructure manager
an international train path request or a train path request submitted to both infrastructure managers
Factsheet “Procedure for delayed or ahead of international freight trains” (German) (PDF, 330 KB)Link opens in new window. (PDF, 330 KB)This document is not barrier-free.

Border factsheets.

Border factsheets are information documents that depict each border point geographically and in terms of the systems involved. The factsheets also list the operating points that need to be recorded when submitting requests to NeTS-AVIS. They are of a purely informative nature and are intended to facilitate the train path application process in cross-border traffic. They therefore have no legal effect.

With train path studies (timetable studies), an applicant can have the feasibility of new or amended service proposals examined in order to develop them further, if necessary iteratively, with regard to the train path order in the annual timetable or in the timetable during the year. Train path studies must be ordered in NeTS-Avis or using this order form. The charging of train path studies is regulated in the infrastructure service catalog.

Train path studies order form

Downloads.

Information document on train path studies (PDF, 295 KB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 295 KB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.

The purpose of the Network usage concept and Network usage plans is to secure equitable train paths for freight and passenger traffic on the Swiss rail network, and to allow an attractive service for both types of traffic in the long term.

The Network usage concept and Network usage plans are based on the Expansion steps for rail infrastructure, currently on Expansion steps 2025 with the corresponding service concept for that target year. They ensure that the future demands of freight and passenger transport can be met. Thanks to the binding nature of train path planning, and the allocation of the available train paths to the different types of traffic, in particular the train paths necessary for freight traffic – in terms of both quantity and quality – can be secured in the long term, so it this is not displaced by the expansion of passenger traffic.

The Network usage concept lays down the planned train path usage over one model hour, for all sections of the rail network. It plans at least one freight train path per hour and in each direction on double-track sections and one train path per hour on sections that are mostly single-track. Transalpine freight traffic requires four train paths per hour in each direction on the Basel-Gotthard-Chiasso route, two on the Basel-Gotthard-Luino route, and three and a half on the Basel-Lötschberg-Domodossola route. It is the Federal Council’s responsibility to approve the Network usage concept and its updating.

The Network usage plans lay down train path securing in detail, related to the individual timetable years. The Network usage plans are drawn up by the infrastructure managers six years before the timetable year in question, and updated as required. The FOT approves the Network usage plans at the request of the infrastructure managers. These plans are binding for infrastructure managers and the authorities, and serve as a basis for train path allocation.

To the NNK on the website of the Federal Office of Transport Link opens in new window.

Downloads.

NNP 2024 (PDF, 7,9 MB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 7,9 MB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.
NNP 2025 (PDF, 8,4 MB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 8,4 MB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.
NNP 2026 (PDF, 8,3 MB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 8,3 MB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.
NNP 2027 (PDF, 8,1 MB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 8,1 MB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.
NNP 2028 (PDF, 8,2 MB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 8,2 MB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.
NNP 2029 (PDF, 8,3 MB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 8,3 MB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.
NNP 2030 (PDF, 9,7 MB)

Download The link destination will be opened in an external application or a new window (PDF, 9,7 MB) Link opens in new window.This document is not barrier-free.

The capacity strategy describes the basic principles of capacity management and traffic flow planning. This document was drawn up jointly by SBB Infrastructure and BLS Netz AG for the first time in 2022 for the timetable year 2025 as part of the collaboration in the European "TTR for Smart Capacity Management" programme and coordinated with the infrastructure managers on the "Rhine - Alpine" freight corridor. The capacity strategy is drawn up for each timetable year and published in one national language and in English in accordance with the requirements of the international programme.

TTR for Smart Capacity Management
Link opens in new window.Capacity Strategy 2025 (PDF, 860 KB)Link opens in new window. (PDF, 860 KB)This document is not barrier-free.
Capacity Strategy 2026 (PDF, 897 KB)Link opens in new window. (PDF, 897 KB)This document is not barrier-free.
Capacity Strategy 2027 (PDF, 1,1 MB)Link opens in new window. (PDF, 1,1 MB)This document is not barrier-free.

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Service links

Train paths.

Annual timetable.

Current timetable.

Ordering tool.

Map showing Swiss border crossing points.

Regulations for train path requests at border railway stations.

Border factsheets.

Downloads.

Downloads.

Further content

Footer

Contact

SBB 2030 Strategy

Social Media

The company

SBB clock.

Timeless SBB design.

Disclaimer

Navigate at sbb.ch

Train paths.

Annual timetable / Ordering tool.

Route opening times.

Designation of trains.

Train path catalogues.

International paths.

Additional service loading platform facilities.

Order form route studies.

Network usage concept and network usage plans.

Capacity strategy (TTR – Redesign of the International Timetabling Process).

Further content

More on the topic.