Why is train travel so expensive and car travel so cheap?

Where there’s a will, there’s a way: Why traveling by train is often more expensive and cumbersome than driving. With the increasing number of electric vehicles, driving is just as environmentally friendly as taking the train.

Booking a trip within Switzerland or Europe today is a matter of minutes. Traveling from Bern to Zurich or Geneva can quickly cost over 100 Swiss Francs.

The price watchdog notes that since 1990, travel costs for car drivers have increased by about 30 percent. That might seem steep, but compared to train travelers, car drivers are getting off cheaply.

Price Development Since 1990:

– Single tickets cost 45 percent more.

– Round-trip tickets have risen by almost 80 percent.

– The Half Fare Travelcard is around 60 percent more expensive.

– General season ticket holders have to pay 65 percent more.

What are the reasons for the uneven increase in costs? The price monitor states, “In road traffic, the development of travel costs seems to be more market-driven. Consequently, the cost increase tends to follow the general inflation in Switzerland.

On the other hand, train prices are influenced not only by overall inflation but primarily by political decisions and supply-related developments. This includes, for example, the abolition of discounts on round-trip tickets in 2004. As a result, the round-trip ticket prices from Bern to Zurich almost doubled during the same period.

The railways keep raising their prices. It’s a wrong move in the face of the climate crisis, as train travel is already too expensive and will likely become even more so over time.

In contrast, if two people drive through Switzerland in a rental car, they’ll end up much cheaper.

Example of car rental for 1 day: CHF 60 + round trip gasoline costs to Zurich, approximately CHF 30.

Total: CHF 90, possibly with parking fees added. This way, you’ll save a lot of money and have much more flexibility. If three or four people are traveling together, they’ll save even more, as the vehicle cost remains the same and is shared among several people.

Train travel is already too expensive today, especially for occasional and spontaneous travelers. However, if the number of passengers is to be increased as politically demanded, efforts must be made for this group. Passengers who switched to a car due to the pandemic are unlikely to return to trains due to increased prices – quite the opposite.