Among other international destinations that Switzerland’s national railway company SBB is setting its sights on, is the Italian city of Bolzano.
The plan calls for the train — to be launched in December 2026 — to leave Zurich and travel to the city in the South Tyrol province of north Italy via Innsbruck in Austria.
The journey time is expected to be approximately six hours.
However, this time could be reduced by one hour with the opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel — a 55-kilometre-long railway route under construction through the base of the Eastern Alps — in 2032.
Giruno trains, which are already the mainstay of SBB’s route from Zurich to Italy, are also expected to run on the Bolzano line.
Why Bolzano?
Simply put, to satisfy the growing demand.
That’s because this city is reportedly a popular destination for Swiss tourists, who accounted for almost 400,000 arrivals and 1.7 million overnight stays in 2024.
Currently, no direct trains from Switzerland operate on this line; travellers from Zurich have to change trains in Lugano, Milano, and Verona, or else in Innsbruck.
Ciao, Italia
SBB is not only targeting Bolzano.
The existing direct trains to Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Livorno, and Venice are also to be expanded or extended.
And a Zurich to Rome connection with the Italian super-train Frecciarossa is also under discussion.
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Elsewhere in Europe as well
But the SBB isn’t only focusing on the south-of-the-border destinations.
It is also planning more trains to Germany, new night trains to Copenhagen and Malmö, as well as better connections to Hamburg.
And the route between Swiss cities and London is being planned as well.
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