Tilo 25 Million Passengers | Frontaliere Ticino
Tilo 25 Million Passengers — free tools and expert guides for cross-border workers (frontalieri) between Switzerland and Italy. Compare salaries, tax, LAMal health insurance, pensions, and cost of living in Ticino. Updated 2026.
Context
The TILO railway company has reached a new record in 2025, transporting 25 million passengers. This represents a 3.7% increase compared to the 24.1 million in 2024. The rail traffic in the Ticino region continues to grow, thanks to the expansion of the offer and the introduction of new infrastructure such as the Mendrisio-Varese Railway (FMV) in 2018 and the Ceneri Base Tunnel (CBT) in 2020. The number of passengers has more than doubled compared to the 12.3 million in 2016. The increase in passenger traffic has been constant in recent years, with a 2.5% increase in 2022 and 3.2% in 2023. This positive trend has been favored by the increase in train frequency and the introduction of new routes, such as the Lugano-Mendrisio-Varese line, which recorded a 15% increase in passengers in 2025 compared to the previous year. According to TILO's data, the most frequented stations in 2025 were Lugano (4.2 million passengers), Bellinzona (2.5 million), and Chiasso (2.1 million). The Lugano station recorded a 5% increase in passengers compared to 2024, also thanks to the introduction of new connection services to Milan-Malpensa airport. The expansion of the railway offer has also led to an increase in the use of public transport by commuters. According to a survey conducted in 2023, 75% of commuters who travel to work in Switzerland use the train as their main means of transport. The Chiasso-Zurich line was one of the most frequented, with over 10,000 commuters per day. The CBT, inaugurated in 2020, has significantly contributed to the increase in passenger traffic, reducing travel times between Ticino and the rest of Switzerland. The tunnel has also led to an increase in transport capacity, allowing more trains to run simultaneously. TILO has also invested in the modernization of...
Operational details
The increase in rail traffic in Ticino has been constant in recent years, confirming the positive trend already observed earlier. In 2019, TILO transported 16.7 million passengers, while in 2025 the number rose to 25 million, representing a 50% increase in six years. The daily average of passengers transported by TILO is around 76,400 people, with peaks recorded during morning and evening rush hours. This increase is also due to the introduction of new stops and the improvement of services. For example, the opening of the new Lugano Paradiso stop in 2022 increased the frequency of trains and reduced travel times between nearby locations. Furthermore, the introduction of the cadenced timetable has made the service more predictable and reliable, encouraging more people to use public transport. The new Lugano Paradiso stop recorded an average of 1,200 passengers per day in the first half of 2023, significantly contributing to the overall increase in passengers. Another factor that contributed to the increase in passengers was the adjustment of tariffs and commercial offers. TILO introduced a new system of monthly and annual subscriptions in 2023, which is more convenient for commuters, with an average saving of 15% compared to previous tariffs. The data show that the municipalities most served by TILO, such as Lugano, Bellinzona, and Chiasso, have recorded the largest increases in the number of passengers. In particular, the Lugano-Bellinzona line saw a 60% increase in the number of daily passengers compared to 2019. To manage the increase in traffic, TILO has implemented a series of operational measures, including the introduction of more frequent security checks and the training of additional personnel for the management of trains and stations. - More frequent security c...
Key points
For cross-border workers who work in Ticino, the increase in rail traffic means more transport options and greater flexibility. For example, with the introduction of new railway lines, a cross-border worker who lives in Lugano and works in Bellinzona can now choose from several travel options, reducing waiting times and improving the planning of the working day. If you are planning your daily commute, you can use our salary calculator to find out how much you can earn as a cross-border worker. For example, by entering your information related to your annual gross salary of 80,000 Swiss francs, you can discover that your net monthly salary would be around 5,500 Swiss francs, considering tax deductions and social security contributions according to the current regulations in Switzerland. You can also consult our resources on cross-border mobility and cost of living in Ticino to plan your working and personal life to the best. For example, do you know that the cost of living in Ticino is relatively high compared to other Swiss regions? A 3-room apartment in Lugano can cost around 1,800 Swiss francs per month, while in Bellinzona the price drops to around 1,400 Swiss francs. When planning your trip, consider that the annual railway subscription can vary from 2,500 to 4,000 Swiss francs depending on the distance traveled. To optimize costs, you can take advantage of the 'Frontalier' subscription, which offers discounted rates for cross-border workers. 📊 Comparison between two travel scenarios: - A cross-border worker who travels from Lugano to Bellinzona with a regular subscription spends around 3,200 Swiss francs per year. - The same cross-border worker who opts for the 'Frontalier' subscription can save up to 20%, reducing the annual expense to 2,560 Swiss francs. Conside...