The first time someone arriving from Spain hears about the ‘AG’, they’re not quite sure what it is. When they’re told that it’s an annual travel pass covering trains, the underground, trams, buses, lake ferries, cable cars and funiculars across virtually the whole country, the reaction is usually one of interest. When they’re told the price, the conversation takes a different turn. In 2026, the Abonnement Général costs around 3,995 francs in second class, and in 2027 it will rise to 4,095 francs. It’s not just for executives: many workers, families and students who commute daily have one.
It emerged this week that the Surveillant des prix, Switzerland’s independent price regulator, managed to halve the price rise planned for 2027. The SBB and SwissPass had wanted to increase the AG by 200 francs. In the end, it will rise by 100 francs. What the regulator touted as a victory for consumers, the Transport and Environment Association described as “cosmetic adjustments”. They are right on both counts: it is a real improvement, and the price remains high by any European standard. SBB also committed to offering more discounted tickets in 2027, with a minimum total value of 90 million francs in discounts.
The question many Spaniards ask themselves when they arrive is whether the AG is worth it. The answer depends on how you live and work. If you commute daily between two towns, if you travel frequently for work, or if you use public transport as your main means of getting around, the monthly cost works out at around 340 francs. In that scenario, the AG is good value and, in some cases, works out cheaper than buying single tickets. If you live and work in the same place and don’t get about much, the demi-tarif at 175 francs a year, with a 50 per cent discount on almost everything, is probably the more sensible option.
What does surprise visitors from abroad is that public transport in Switzerland is not cheap by default. The fact that it is so punctual, so frequent and so well integrated comes at a cost, and a considerable proportion of that cost is paid directly by passengers. Switzerland invests huge sums in rail infrastructure, but does not subsidise it to the same extent as other European countries. And that shows in the fare.