Swiss trains challenged by cheaper, faster buses

More long-distance bus companies are operating on European routes. They are a serious competitor to trains. (SRF, swissinfo.ch)

Private long-distance bus providers have been steadily increasing their European network and passengers now have a bigger choice of how to travel in Europe.

Statistics from the Swiss Federal Office of Transport show a fourfold increase over the past five years in licences awarded for routes, from 64 to 266.

Customers are attracted by much lower prices, direct coections and shorter travelling times.

That's bad news for the Swiss Federal Railways which is finding it hard to compete with the cheaper fares.

In one example, a bus company providing direct coections between Zurich and Munich in Germany charges CHF18-48. For the same route, a full-fare train ticket costs CHF92 for a trip that takes 30 minutes longer.