Bern station is being expanded so it can continue to accommodate the rapidly growing numbers of passengers and serve as a transport hub for all modes of transport in the future. Bern is the second-largest railway station in Switzerland and plays a key role in both domestic and international rail traffic. It is starting to reach its limits in terms of operational and physical capacity.

As part of the future Bern station, SBB and RBS will be working on two large projects:

• A new RBS station beneath the existing platforms 2 to 7.
• The new SBB “Mitte” underpass, accessible from Länggasse and Bubenbergplatz.
• The City of Bern plans to reorganise the traffic arrangements around the station in conjunction with the expansion work and create improvements in tram and bus services as well as for pedestrians and cyclists

From Monday 11 November 2019 to 2 November 2020, tracks 12 and 13 will be subject to alternate temporary closures. The stops of the trains departing on these two tracks will therefore change. The change is only between tracks 12 and 13, which is why there are track changes to the opposite track on the same platform. The reason for the closures is the construction of the new pedestrian underpass in Bern railway station and the raising of the platform for track 12/13 to make it easier for train passengers to board and alight (see zukunftbahnhofbern.chLink opens in new window.). The online timetable is continually updated.

From 27 January to 3 August 2020, passengers on track 13 at Bern railway station will not be able to use all entrances and exits to the platform. 

During this period, only the following will be accessible:

• The steps and the escalator near the ‘Welle’ overpass at the platform hall side (Sector C)
• Ramp between the pedestrian underpass and the platform (Sector B)
• The staircase just next to the ramp between the pedestrian underpass and the platform (Sector B)

The two staircases at the far ends of the platform are closed: the staircase between the ‘Welle’ overpass and the western side of the station (Sector D, looking towards the Inselspital hospital) as well as the staircase in the pedestrian underpass on the right of the Schanze lift (Sector A, looking towards Wankdorf) are therefore not accessible.

In addition, from 19 March to 5 May 2020 the lift near the ‘Welle’ will also be out of service. Passengers who would like to take the lift between the ‘Welle’ and the platform for tracks 12/13 will need to make a detour: Use the lift to the platform for tracks 9/10, continue along the platform for tracks 9/10 to the underpass and along the ramp to the platform for tracks 12/13.

Since 4 November 2019, the IR Biel/Bienne–Lyss–Bern has been travelling to the new track 49 and the RE La Chaux-de-Fonds–Neuchâtel–Bern has been arriving on the new track 50. Please allow more time to access trains on the new tracks, as they are several hundred metres away from the “Welle” overpass. The RE Bern–Neuchâtel–La Chaux-de-Fonds departs from track 5 from Monday to Friday and from track 6 on Saturday and Sunday. It only arrives on track 50.

The new tracks are located directly behind tracks 9 and 10 (west side) and can be accessed barrier-free from the platform for track 9/10 as well as from the Welle. Directions to the new tracks are provided by signs and signposts on all levels of the railway station. Directions are also provided in the SBB app ‘My station’.

Access is wheelchair accessible, both from the Welle and directly via platform 9/10. The entire track 49/50 platform extension is barrier-free with tactile lines, stair markings, a lift and loudspeakers. Customer guides and the agency in stations providing assistance to passengers are also available for travellers with reduced mobility.

SBB has extended the platform for track 9/10 by 385 metres to the west (platform 49/50) to enable it to maintain operations during the expansion of Bern railway station and other construction work in the Bern region. The extended platform also results in longer paths within the railway station for some travellers. However, the alternative would have been a massively reduced timetable lasting several years.

For travellers changing to or arriving on a bus or tram, SBB generally recommends using the nearby stops ‘Schanzenstrasse’, ‘Obergericht’ and ‘Hirschengraben’. These are nearer to track 49/50 than the stops on the station forecourt.

Until Bern station re-emerges, expanded and shining with new splendour, there will unfortunately be plenty of noise, dust and construction site barriers around. Maintenance work on the tracks, the platforms and platform canopies, as well as in the underpass will now also be an everyday occurrence. SBB maintains one of the busiest track networks in the world. Such intensive use means that the network also needs to be maintained.

This work may affect track occupation.

Some construction work will also take up platform space, further limiting the space available. Passengers are therefore requested to spread out as much as possible along the entire length of the platform while waiting and to use all available space within the white safety lines. This will help to make conditions on the platforms more relaxed. Furthermore, the better the passengers are distributed between the various passenger coaches when boarding and alighting, the more punctual departure will be.

Thank you for your consideration, understanding and cooperation.