Pioneer project: You’ll never guess in which canton public transport runs (almost) 24 hours a day

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No, it is neither the canton of Bern, Aargau, Zurich, nor one of the two Basels where public transport runs 24 hours a day. It is a region in the canton of Graubünden where public transport has been running almost 24 hours a day for a month, even on weekdays. This is reported by the CH Media newspapers.

At this ‘German-Swiss premiere’, as it is called, minibuses will run until 4 a.m. in the Lenherheide-Albula region. In the municipalities around Tiefencastel and Lenzerheide, trips can also be booked at short notice. There is no charge for overnight use.

“Real alternative to passenger cars”

For the time being, the 24-hour service applies until the end of the winter season in mid-April. According to Thierry Müller, head of public transport in the canton of Graubünden, his office is already in contact with other municipalities: “If public transport wants to be a real alternative to private cars, we must meet as many mobility needs as possible,” said Müller.

The all-day offer is appreciated by both tourists and employees of companies that are open until late at night.

The pioneering role of Graubünden

Graubünden’s pioneering work apparently also brings other cantons onto the scene. As CH Media reports, the Zurich Transport Association (ZVV), which regulates public transport in the canton of Zurich, is also investigating “whether a night network could operate on some or all days of the week.”

The use of waiting bus systems in the city of Zurich is also possible. But first the night network would have to be expanded at weekends, for example with additional nighttime S-Bahn trains between Zurich and Aarau and Zurich and Olten.

That is why the cantons of Bern, Aargau, Basel-Stadt and St. Gallen want to expand their night network also during weekend nights. However, they see no need to work 24 hours a day during the week. Even on weekends, many nighttime public transport services are underutilized, with lower cost recovery rates than during the day. (kes)

Source:Blick