Switzerlands international and overnight train services face significant disturbances ahead
Laying it all out for April
April's on the horizon, and it's time to get savvy about transit changes. For NightJet, an overnight train by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), April seems to be a bit turbulent, with a few of its Switzerland-bound trains getting the ax due to unexpected construction projects in Germany.
From April 14th to April 28th, travelers can say goodbye to these Swiss-bound NightJets: NJ 402 from Zurich to Amsterdam, NJ 403 from Amsterdam to Zurich, EN 40459 from Zurich to Prague, and EN 40458 from Praha to Zurich. The Zurich – Berlin and Berlin – Zurich train (NJ 408 / NJ 409 incl. IC 60408 / 60409) will make a detour to Hamburg between April 14th-15th and April 27th-28th.
ÖBB suggests those affected to hop on daytime services in or to Hanover instead, as their NightJet tickets will be valid on these trains. On the Zurich – Hamburg / Hamburg – Zurich line, Bremen and Verden an der Aller stops will be canceled during the same period, with travelers advised to take the daytime service via Hanover instead.
Other potential hiccups you might want to know about:
- That whole Weil am Rhein area in Germany will be under engineering works until April 22nd, causing rail services along the route to be restricted. ICE Basel SBB-Cologne-Hamburg trains on line 43 will be cancelled between Basel SBB and Karlsruhe during this period.
- From April 14th to April 28th, disruptions, cancellations, and replacement bus services will pop up along the Rhine Valley Railway (Karlsruhe-Basel) due to construction work. The ICE Berlin-Basel-Interlaken, Kiel/Hamburg-Basel-Zurich/Chur, and Hamburg-Cologne-Basel services will be affected particularly. The Zurich-Amsterdam and Zurich-Leipzig-Prague night trains will also be cancelled. The Zurich-Berlin/Hamburg night train will be diverted via Schaffhausen. Passengers for Berlin will change trains in Hanover.
For those thinking about bailing on their tickets entirely and asking for a refund, you're in luck. Last-minute snafus like these usually warrant cancellations and refunds as long as it's beyond your control. Reach out to ÖBB via their customer service number, +43 5 1717. If you bought your tickets through Swiss railway company SBB, you can find specifics on cancelling international train tickets here.
Just remember, while this article focuses mainly on April disruptions, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the SBB website for more updates in May, other destinations, and even beyond.
Note: While NightJet services to Switzerland don't seem to be directly affected during April 2022, related disruptions in areas impacting Swiss-bound trains could potentially affect travelers. We recommend confirming your specific route with ÖBB or Swiss Railways for the most accurate information.
On a lighter note:
According to our source, 2025 might bring even more changes to travel in Europe, so stay tuned! If you're up for some exciting times (and maybe a few headaches), Europe's transit system's got you covered!
[1] Source: SBB[4] ÖBB Customer Service: +43 5 1717[source] ('https://data.sbb.ch/de/disruptions/g-ico-trains/2022-04.csv')
- Travelers planning trips with NightJet in April should be aware of the cancellations of several Switzerland-bound trains, including NJ 402 from Zurich to Amsterdam, NJ 403 from Amsterdam to Zurich, EN 40459 from Zurich to Prague, and EN 40458 from Praha to Zurich.
- Other disruptions in April involve the Weil am Rhein area in Germany under engineering works until April 22nd, causing rail services along the route to be restricted, and construction work on the Rhine Valley Railway (Karlsruhe-Basel) from April 14th to April 28th.
- Passengers affected by these disruptions can utilize daytime services in or to Hanover as their NightJet tickets will be valid on these trains, and for those with concerns about refunds, last-minute snags usually warrant cancellations and refunds as long as it's beyond control.
- With potential changes in Europe's transit system in 2025, travelers looking for thrilling times, and possibly some headaches, should keep an eye on upcoming updates from Swiss Railway (SBB) and ÖBB.
