Train between Switzerland and the UK is one step closer to becoming reality; Zurich police does not systematically disclose offenders’ nationality; and more news in our Tuesday roundup.
Switzerland is on the right track for a London-bound train
In March, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and France’s SNCF Voyageurs signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing new international routes.
Now the two companies took another step: they signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the Eurostar to establish a potential direct connection between Swiss cities and London.
“This marks an important milestone in the long-term planning for establishing a new direct connection to the United Kingdom,” the SBB said on Monday.
“This is because London is the number one flight destination from Switzerland, and at the same time, there is strong customer demand for a direct rail connection to the United Kingdom,” the company pointed out, adding that “direct connections between Zurich and London with a travel time of 6 hours, between Basel and London with a travel time of 5 hours, and between Geneva and London with a travel time of 5.5 hours could respond to a market demand and to international travellers’ expectations.”
And speaking of train travel…
The most crowded train in Switzerland is revealed
The most crowded train in Switzerland doesn’t travel through Zurich, but along Lake Geneva. More precisely, it is the train that departs Geneva for Lausanne at 6:05 pm.
According to an analysis by public broadcaster RTS, it’s the most heavily used train in the country. In second class, the average occupancy is 98 percent, in first class – 91 percent.
Nevertheless, this particular route is not permanently overloaded – only during peak commuting hours between 6:30 and 8:30 am, and between 5 and 7 p.m.
Outside of these times, the situation often eases considerably.
Zurich police does not systematically disclose offenders’ nationality
Since 2021, police forces in Zurich have been legally obligated to disclose the nationality of suspects – except in rare cases when the person’s privacy must be protected.
However, this rule is not upheld systematically, which has prompred a Swiss news platform to find out the reason for this inconsistency.
According to the cantonal police spokesperson Kenneth Jones, “in criminal cases, the nationalities of those involved are usually mentioned; in traffic offences, [they are made known] only in cases of serious violations or where there is significant public interest – such as with speeding,” he said.
More and more Germans are choosing Switzerland as their home
Around 330,000 Germans were living in Switzerland at the beginning of 2025 – the latest figures available from Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden, Germany.
This makes Switzerland by far the most popular country for Germans to live in.
Another German-speaking neighbour, Austria, is in the second place, with 240, 000 German nationals having settled there.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
