What North America can learn from the greatest transportation system in the world
www.theglobeandmail.com
Fifty years ago, Switzerland was poised to become as car-dependent as anywhere in North America. Now it has the best transit system in the world. What’s the secret to this alpine nation’s transport supremacy?

This post uses a gift link with a very limited view count limit. When it runs out, there is an archived copy available

This was a revelation. For just over $6,000 a year, the Swiss can travel anywhere, reliably, in comfort, and get where they’re going on time. (In neighbouring Austria, where the cost of living isn’t so high, the equivalent national rail pass costs just €1,100 – or $1,600.) In Canada and the United States, the average cost of car ownership – including payments, parking tickets, insurance, parking, and gas – is more than $12,000 a year. That’s a high price to pay for a system that delivers congestion, traffic deaths and injuries, air pollution – and, more often than not, gets us to work or school late. For half the price North Americans pay, the Swiss get reliable, anywhere-to-anywhere mobility.

  • VeganCheesecakeEnglish
    6·
    2 days ago

    In Germany, it’s currently 696€ a year to use all local and regional public transport (metro, bus, regional train, etc.) nationally, 4899€ a year to also use all long distance public transport (IC, ICE).

    Unless you travel around the country a lot, the first plus a long distance discount card is usually enough to get around.

    Still, there has been too little investment into public transport for decades, and the 696€ Ticket is partially funded by the federal government, so let’s see whether that lasts past the next election. All in all, could be better, but could also be a lot worse.

    • Skunk@jlai.luEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Same same, I don’t know why they talked about the 6k pass (AG 1st class is 6500, 2nd is 4000) as it isn’t widely used. Most of those are offered to employees at management level by their companies, or by rich people who doesn’t care about money and doesn’t travel by car (so maybe 5 people?)

      The rest of the population use the 2nd class AG only if they travel a lot on IC.

      And most of us just have a cantonal pass + half fare card for long distances. For my canton it’s 500chf annually (public price, I have it for 370) and for the quality of Swiss public transport I think this is very reasonable.

      • porous_grey_matter@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        For my canton it’s 500chf annually

        Ah, I see why that’s way better. Here in Aargau it’s 2700, feels like you might as well get the GA at that point.

        • Skunk@jlai.luEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          Holy shit! And 3300.- with Zurich, that’s crazy. Yeah you can totally go for the GA at that price point, and you can move during weekends.

          I guess living in a city canton makes it cheaper as the network is smaller with more customers.