Swiss Poll: Nearly Half Back Direct High-Speed Rail Links to UK Over Flying

New rail services can give Switzerland its first high-speed direct trains to the UK.

Polling in Switzerland

Total sample size was 1,048 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11th–24th September 2026.

• Nearly half of Swiss people use rail for other international destinations at least once a year. When asked about journey duration, six in ten rail users said they would use rail for journeys of up to six hours
• 58% of respondents support developing direct rail connections to the UK. More than half of respondents think developing international rail is the right priority
• 61% of people that would fly to London would choose rail instead if prices were lower. Direct trains and shorter journeys would also make them prefer rail

Conclusions

Half of Swiss respondents are already travelling internationally by rail, while six in ten travellers would choose the train for journeys up to six hours

• Close to half of Swiss people take the train to travel abroad at least once a year. Six in ten rail travelers would choose the train for journeys of up to six hours
• Despite this enthusiasm for rail travel, seven in ten Swiss people travelling to the UK would currently fly
• Swiss travelers choose to fly because it is faster, more direct, and cheaper. Fixing this can make them switch to rail more often
• Fast and direct rail connections between Switzerland and the UK could encourage people to travel less by plane
• Most Swiss people think developing international rail is the right priority, and nearly six in ten respondents support direct trains to the UK

Policy recommendations

Priority next steps to develop international rail between Switzerland and the UK

1. Federal, regional authorities, and rail operators (CFF/SBB, Eurostar, SNCF) shall make these services a priority. These direct trains to the UK can shift many passengers from air to rail, cutting significantly greenhouse gas emissions.
2. The Swiss federal government shall secure the necessary investments to adapt the train stations to cross-Channel trains. We call on the Swiss government to earmark investments in train stations to host direct London-Geneva and London-Basel/Zürich services.
3. The authorities should work with transport operators (CFF/SBB, Eurostar, SNCF) to ensure that train fares will be attractive and affordable. One of the key factors highlighted by the survey as to why passengers prefer the train to the airplane is the price of train tickets. This is why a proactive policy in this area is needed to identify ways of ensuring that ticket prices are attractive.

Download: Read the full results.

News release from T&E.