Spring bank holidays: more traffic on road and rail

Di Valerie Linc ·

SBB increases capacity with 58 special trains and 130,000 extra seats. USTRA advises alternatives to avoid congestion.

Contesto

In brief - 58 special trains and 130,000 additional seats - Lenzburg works affect schedules - USTRA advises highway alternatives ## Key facts - What: FFS service enhancement and USTRA advice - When: Spring bank holidays 2026 - Where: Switzerland and Ticino - Who: FFS and USTRA - Amount: 130,000 additional seats This year, in anticipation of increased travel for the Ascension and Pentecost long weekends, the FFS have decided to enhance services between German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino with 58 additional special trains and around 130,000 extra seats. This represents a 25% increase compared to 2025, as stated in today's press release. However, the railways note that certain trains may still experience high passenger numbers. The FFS therefore recommend planning your journey in advance and booking your seats. ### Extra carriages To increase the number of available seats, the FFS will also add some carriages to regular trains, including EuroCity services to Italy. Additionally, on Ascension Thursday and the Saturday before Pentecost, an extra TILO RE80 service will be offered from Locarno to Milano Porta Garibaldi. These services will not pass through Chiasso as usual, but via Varese, with intermediate stops at Gallarate and Rho Fiera Milano. ### Better to book As mentioned, the FFS recommend planning your journey in advance by checking the special train services in the online timetable (recognizable by the absence of a line number), booking your seats, and taking into account the mandatory bike reservation. Thanks to the graphic representation in the FFS Mobile app and on FFS.ch, you can select your desired seats on most national long-distance InterCity trains, to Italy, and in first class to France. For trips within Switzerland, you can also select bike seats on...

Dettagli operativi

Tips for motorists The weekends of Ascension (May 14-17), Pentecost (May 22-25), and Corpus Christi (June 4-7) are expected to be 'busy' on the roads as well. For this reason, the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) has communicated some tips for motorists. Holiday and festive travel will cause traffic disruptions, notes FEDRO, particularly along the north-south axes of the Gotthard (A2) and San Bernardino (A13). Alternatives to the Gotthard motorway tunnel include the Great St. Bernard Pass, the Simplon Pass, and shuttle trains through Lötschberg and Simplon. The Gotthard Pass will open to traffic in the coming days and will serve as an alternative route. ### Avoid congesting city centers Intense traffic along the main axes, in the presence of queues, often leads to increased traffic exiting the motorway early towards ordinary roads, causing inconvenience to residents of neighboring localities and worsening traffic problems in the affected region. For this reason, FEDRO recommends continuing the journey on the motorway even in situations of congestion, planning sufficient time for travel, and avoiding diverting onto the secondary network. ### Construction sites on the Simplon and at Kerenzerberg On the A9 stretch near Casermetta al Simplon, traffic will be restored to two lanes on public holidays to avoid traffic restrictions due to the presence of the construction site. For more information: a9-simplon.ch. During the restoration work of the Kerenzerberg tunnel, on the A3, the following traffic regulations apply: Ascension: from 6 AM on Wednesday, May 13, to 8 PM on Monday, May 18, the tunnel will remain passable without hourly interruptions. Pentecost: from 6 AM on Friday, May 22, to 8 PM on Tuesday, May 26, passability is guaranteed without restrictions. On weekdays be...

Punti chiave

What to do to avoid traffic For avoiding traffic during spring bank holidays, it is advisable to plan the trip in advance and inform yourself about the available alternatives. The FFS offer a significant increase in seats and special trains, while USTRA recommends using the main highways and avoiding detours on the secondary network. Additionally, it is important to stay updated on ongoing work and any changes to train and road schedules. ### Use special trains The FFS have enhanced their offer with 58 special trains and 130,000 additional seats. It is advisable to book seats in advance and check the schedule online. For trips within Switzerland, it is possible to select bike spaces on the carriage diagram. ### Inform yourself about highway alternatives USTRA recommends using the main highways and avoiding detours on the secondary network. In case of ongoing work, it is important to inform yourself about any changes to schedules and available alternatives. For more information, consult the dedicated websites for the Sempione and Kerenzerberg construction sites. ### Plan your trip in advance To avoid traffic, it is advisable to plan your trip in advance and allow sufficient time for travel. Additionally, it is important to stay updated on weather conditions and any closures of alpine passes. ### Use the travel calculator To plan your trip effectively, you can use the travel calculator available on the website. This tool allows you to compare travel times and costs of different means of transport, helping you choose the most convenient option. Source: ticinonews.ch

Punti chiave

[{"q":"Which are the days with the highest number of travelers?","a":"The days with the highest number of travelers are Ascension Thursday and the Saturday before Pentecost, with additional connections from Locarno to Milan Porta Garibaldi."},{"q":"How can I book seats on trains?","a":"You can book seats through the Mobile FFS app or the FFS.ch website, selecting your desired seats on most InterCity trains."},{"q":"What are the alternatives to the Gottardo highway tunnel?","a":"The alternatives to the Gottardo highway tunnel are the Gran San Bernardo, the Sempione pass, and shuttle trains through Lötschberg and Sempione."}]

Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the days with the highest number of travelers?
The days with the highest number of travelers are Ascension Thursday and the Saturday before Pentecost, with additional connections from Locarno to Milan Porta Garibaldi.
How can I book seats on trains?
You can book seats through the Mobile FFS app or the FFS.ch website, selecting your desired seats on most InterCity trains.
What are the alternatives to the Gottardo highway tunnel?
The alternatives to the Gottardo highway tunnel are the Gran San Bernardo, the Sempione pass, and shuttle trains through Lötschberg and Sempione.

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