How to transport your luggage on Swiss rail

Do it yourself

Taking luggage on the trains

If you can carry your bags in one go, then you can take along your luggage yourself. You can put your luggage in the designated space over the seats, between the backrests, or at the end of the coach. Keep an eye on your luggage at all times. Theft is not common but does occur, mostly at larger crowded stations.

If you have more luggage than you can carry, or if you want to travel more comfortably, then a luggage transport service might be useful.

Storing luggage at the station: lockers

All larger Swiss rail stations have lockers. You can access them nearly 24 hours a day. There are 2 types:

• The new grey lockers, which can be rented for a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 96 hours. Payment can be done by credit card, payment apps such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, and Swiss coins.
• The old blue lockers, which can be rented for a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 72 hours. Payment must be made with Swiss coins.

Locker sizes and prices range from:

• S (about 35 cm wide, 45 cm high and 55 cm deep) at CHF 5 for the first 6 hours, to
• XXL (about 52 cm wide, 94 cm high and 85 cm deep) at CHF 12 for the first 6 hours.

Storing luggage at the station: at the SBB Travel Centre

Larger Swiss rail stations offer luggage storage at the SBB Travel Centre. This is suitable if your luggage doesn't fit in lockers, and/or if you want to store it for a period longer than 96 hours.

You can access your luggage during the opening hours of the concerning counters. This is typically between 7-8 am and 6-7 pm.

Costs are CHF 12 per item per day. Each item can weigh no more than 25 kg. Long-term serviced luggage storage is possible too. For example: 1-month storage costs CHF 120 per item.

Bike transportation

You can take along your bike in most trains. In some trains it's not possible. Some trains require a reservation. The timetable shows whether these exceptions apply. You need to buy a bike ticket or a bike day pass.

Some types of bikes can be transported for free as hand luggage. Examples are packed folding bikes and bikes for children under 6 years old.

Luggage services

There are various luggage services. Below is an overview of the options. Note that you need to present a valid train ticket or pass when handing in your luggage.

Traveling within Switzerland

You can ship luggage from train station to train station within Switzerland. This is available for many, but not all train stations. The price is CHF 12 per item, with a limit of 25 kg per item. In most cases you can hand in your luggage before 7 PM and collect it two days later from 9 AM. Timeframes may very per rail station. Ordering in advance is not required.

Other options:

• Station to door: shipping from a train station to any address in Switzerland or vice versa is possible as well. An additional fee applies. Ordering in advance is not required.
• Door to door: a luggage service from address to address within Switzerland, with an optional express service for same day delivery. This service needs to be ordered two days in advance at the latest.
• There are also luggage services from Germany and Austria to Switzerland and vice versa.

Please see the SBB link on this page for further details.

Arrival by plane

Items up to 32 kg can be checked in at any airport in the world and collected from most train stations in Switzerland. Delivery to any address in Switzerland is possible as well. You must arrive at Zurich airport to use this service.

Alternatively you can collect your luggage as normal upon arrival, and ship it as explained under "Traveling within Switzerland".

Please see the SBB link on this page for further details.

Departure by plane

Items up to 32 kg can be shipped from selected train stations or any address in Switzerland for next or same day delivery at Zürich airport. You'll need to check in your luggage as normal.

Delivery from any address in Switzerland directly to a foreign airport is possible for flights operated by Swiss and Edelweiss.

Please see the SBB link on this page for further details.