SBB cuts fan trains, forcing football league to change schedules

SBB’s decision to stop running special football fan trains outside its regular timetable has forced the Swiss Football League to move several matches to earlier times, SRF reported. The change also led FC Zurich supporters to use regular trains on their journey to Sion, where disruptions were reported.

The league said it had to bring the FC Sion against FC Zurich match forward from 8.30pm to 6pm, just one day before the game, so that Zurich fans could return home the same day. The match ended 1-1.

SBB said limited resources, construction work and high costs meant it could no longer provide special trains outside its normal timetable. The railway operator said there had also been insufficient capacity on the rail network because of construction work, meaning it could not run an extra train for the match despite the earlier kick-off.

Several hundred FC Zurich fans gathered at Bern railway station on Saturday, where pyrotechnics and firecrackers were set off, according to Bern cantonal police. Two floors were evacuated for safety reasons. No property was damaged, but a large amount of litter was left behind, police said. Passers-by were exposed to noise and smoke from the pyrotechnics.

The Swiss Football League said it was unhappy with the cancellation of the extra trains. “When no fan train is available, fans use regular services. We want to avoid that,” said Philippe Guggisberg, the league’s communications officer. He said the league clearly condemned incidents involving individuals who failed to follow the rules on regular trains.

The league said the system of special trains had worked for decades and that it could not fully understand SBB’s decision. It has adjusted the schedule through Christmas so fans can return by public transport, but said this was not a long-term solution.

Saturday evening matches in the Super League are particularly affected. The match between Lugano and Young Boys was already moved from 8.30pm to 7pm, while Lugano against Lucerne on October 10 will now start at 6pm instead of 8.30pm.

SBB communications officer Moritz Weisskopf said the company would review the situation and look for solutions. SBB would continue to provide fan trains, he said, but did not say whether trains outside the regular timetable would return. Bern cantonal police also called on clubs and the league to find a solution for organised fan transport.