--- title: "Luggage on Swiss Trains (2026): Rules and SBB Forwarding" description: "Where suitcases go on Swiss trains, limits on the Glacier and Bernina Express, SBB luggage forwarding prices for 2026, the airport service and lockers." url: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/luggage-on-swiss-trains" image: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/_astro/01M5J4124FV0NDJM68AX2V6K08.BBevgpTQ_Z1y1oYV.jpg" --- 1. [Home](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/) 2. [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) 3. Luggage on Swiss Trains: Rules, Space on Board and SBB Forwarding Prices [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) # Luggage on Swiss Trains: Rules, Space on Board and SBB Forwarding Prices Where suitcases go on Swiss trains, limits on the Glacier and Bernina Express, SBB luggage forwarding prices for 2026, the airport service and lockers. By [Valentine Julien](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien), Global Manager · Published on October 22, 2026 · 8 min read ![Lucerne 2](/_astro/01M5J4124FV0NDJM68AX2V6K08.BBevgpTQ_2lxJws.webp) On Swiss trains you can bring as much luggage as you can carry and handle yourself: there is no check-in, and SBB publishes no weight limit for bags you keep with you. Big suitcases go in the space between back-to-back seats or on the racks at the ends of the car, smaller bags on the overhead rack. The catch is the panoramic trains and the car-free resorts, where space is tight, which is why we usually send suitcases ahead with SBB's luggage service: CHF 12 (about $15) per bag from station to station, or CHF 50 plus CHF 12 per bag from hotel door to hotel door in 2026, delivered two days later. Here is how it works on each type of train, what the luggage services cost and how we time them so you are never without your clothes. ## Where luggage goes on a regular Swiss train SBB's own advice, which matches what we see every day: - **Large suitcases:** in the gap between back-to-back seats, or under the seats. On many InterCity cars there are luggage racks near the doors. - **Double-deck trains** (most InterCity and InterRegio trains between Zurich, Bern, Lucerne and Geneva): racks at the top of the stairs. The lower deck of IC2000 cars has extra room for luggage, strollers and bikes. - **Overhead racks:** for small bags and coats only. A 23 kg suitcase overhead is a hazard when the train brakes. - **Family cars** (mainly on IC1, IC3, IC6, IC61 and IC8 routes) have multi-purpose spaces on the lower deck. SBB's tip, which we pass on: look at the occupancy forecast in the timetable and board the least busy car. Avoid weekday rush hours around Zurich, Bern and Geneva with big bags, and allow time at the platform: Swiss trains stop for a minute or two and leave on time. Seat reservations are optional on InterCity trains (CHF 5), and they do not reserve luggage space. ## Luggage on the panoramic trains | Train | Luggage space | Our approach | | --- | --- | --- | | [Glacier Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/glacier-express-guide) | Suitcase racks at the end of each car; the operator recommends at most one suitcase plus hand luggage. No ski bags, golf bags, oversized items, bikes or e-scooters | Send suitcases ahead, ride with a daypack | | [Bernina Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/bernina-express-guide) | Racks, but RhB says space is limited and asks for hand luggage where possible | Send suitcases ahead (RhB forwards at CHF 12 per item) | | [GoldenPass Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/goldenpass-express-guide) | Luggage compartments and ski racks in each car | Fine with one medium suitcase each | | Luzern-Interlaken Express | Racks; wheeled cases must lie on their side, aisles kept clear; busy in summer | One medium suitcase each, or send ahead | | Gotthard Panorama Express | Train and boat; bags must be carried on and off the boat at Flüelen | Send suitcases ahead | | Gornergrat, Jungfrau, Pilatus | Mountain railways, round trips | Leave luggage at the hotel | The rule of thumb: a panoramic train you ride for the view is not the place for a large suitcase. You will spend the ride guarding it instead of looking out. ## SBB luggage services and 2026 prices SBB transports luggage across Switzerland and Liechtenstein. About 70 percent travels by rail and 30 percent by road. The services: | Service | Price in 2026 | How it works | | --- | --- | --- | | Station to station | CHF 12 per item; bike CHF 20; e-bike CHF 30 | Hand in at a staffed station today, collect at the destination station the day after tomorrow. Free storage on arrival day plus four days, then CHF 5 per day | | Door to door | CHF 50 per order plus CHF 12 per item | Collected at your hotel on day 1, delivered on day 3 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Book by noon the day before collection | | Car-free resort surcharge | CHF 30 | For door-to-door delivery to Zermatt, Wengen, Mürren, Saas-Fee, Riederalp, Bettmeralp, Braunwald, Stoos | | Express (selected places) | CHF 50 surcharge | Collected 7 to 9 a.m., delivered 5 to 8 p.m. the same day. No bikes | | Extra time window | CHF 15 | A specific delivery slot | Rules for every forwarded bag: maximum 23 kg (about 50 lb), skis and snowboards in a bag, a label with name, address and phone number on each item, and a valid ticket or travel pass for the same route. You book online, at a staffed station, or by phone (0848 44 66 88). **Autumn 2026 offer:** Swiss Travel Pass holders get up to 50 percent off SBB luggage services for travel from October 1 to December 15, 2026. About 200 stations accept station-to-station luggage, including Zurich HB, Zurich Airport, Geneva and Geneva Airport, Lucerne, Interlaken Ost and West, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Zermatt, Täsch, Visp and St. Moritz. ## The two-day gap, and how we plan around it Standard luggage transport takes two days. If you spend two nights in Lucerne and then move to Interlaken, a bag collected the morning you leave Lucerne reaches Interlaken only two days later. Three ways to handle it: 1. **Send on arrival:** you hand in the big suitcase the day you arrive in Lucerne and live from a carry-on for two nights. It works for travelers who pack in two layers: a small bag for the next 48 hours, the big one for the rest. 2. **Express:** for the places where it exists, same-day delivery for a CHF 50 surcharge. 3. **Stays of three nights or more:** the bag leaves the morning after you arrive and is waiting at the next hotel. When we design a multi-stop train trip, we schedule the forwarding with the itinerary: which bag leaves when, from which hotel, to which hotel, and which nights you live from your carry-on. It is one of the details that makes the [Legendary Swiss Trains](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) week work, since it includes the Glacier and Bernina Express back to back. For larger groups or a single traveler on a tight schedule, private luggage couriers also exist; the Glacier Express operator recommends Jaisli Mobility Service for individuals. ## Flights: what replaced Fly Rail Baggage The old Fly Rail Baggage service, where you checked your bag at a Swiss station all the way to your final airport, no longer exists in that form. In 2026 the options are: - **Zurich, station to airport:** hand in your bag at a listed station the day before your flight, collect it at the SBB luggage counter at Zurich Airport (6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.) on flight day, then check it in with your airline yourself. CHF 24 per item, CHF 30 for the express flat rate. Visitors from abroad can book only through a tour operator or a Swiss Travel System sales point, which is something we arrange. - **Arriving in Zurich:** register your bag at the foreign airport with a customs declaration, and collect it at a Swiss station two days later, or the same or next day with express. - **Geneva, hotel to airport:** run by SBB's partner Airportr, with collection across much of the Lake Geneva region, Valais and the Bernese Oberland, for some airlines (including Swiss, British Airways, easyJet, KLM, Austrian and Singapore Airlines). You must check in online first. Price on request. ## Lockers and left luggage SBB runs lockers at about 120 stations, including Zermatt, Interlaken, Lucerne, Zurich HB and both airports. The standard rental period is six hours, the maximum 96 hours, after which the locker is emptied and the bag goes to the travel center. Sizes and prices vary by station; payment is by coin, card, Twint or phone, depending on the locker type. For bulky items, 17 staffed travel centers keep luggage, among them Zurich HB, Zurich Airport, Geneva, Geneva Airport, Lucerne, Bern, Brig and Montreux. A typical use: arrive in Lucerne at 10 a.m., leave the bags in a locker, explore, and collect them on the way to the hotel at check-in time. ## Bikes, skis and golf bags - **Bikes:** need a bike ticket or a Bike Day Pass, and you load them yourself. From March 21 to October 31, a bike reservation is required on InterCity trains (every day on the IC2, IC21, IC5 and IC51 lines, on weekends and holidays on the others). - **Skis:** travel with you on regular trains, or are forwarded at the standard per-item price in a ski bag. Not on the Glacier Express. - **Golf bags:** not accepted on the Glacier Express; forward them with SBB. ## Car-free resorts: Zermatt, Wengen, Mürren, Saas-Fee You arrive by train, and there are no cars to the hotel door. Zermatt has electric taxis and many hotels send their own electric shuttle to the station. Wengen and Mürren are small enough to walk, but the paths are steep. We either ask the hotel to meet the train or send the bags door to door with the CHF 30 car-free surcharge. Our [Switzerland by Train in 12 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate) uses both. ## Accessibility: luggage and reduced mobility One rule surprises many travelers: SBB's free boarding assistance, booked through the SBB Contact Center Handicap (0800 007 102, or +41 800 007 102 from abroad), helps you on and off the train with a mobile lift or a ramp, but **the assistance staff do not carry luggage**. For travelers using a wheelchair or a walker, we always forward the suitcases door to door and keep only a small bag on board. Assistance must be requested at least an hour before departure, and 24 hours ahead for international trains. Our guide to [wheelchair-accessible Switzerland](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/wheelchair-accessible-switzerland) goes further. ## How we pack for a Swiss train trip - One medium suitcase per person (23 kg at most if it will be forwarded), plus a daypack. - The daypack holds two nights of clothes, a warm layer for the summits, medication and passports. - Laundry halfway through a two-week trip, rather than a second suitcase. - Label every bag with your phone number and the next hotel's name, which SBB requires for forwarding anyway. The cost of moving luggage is part of the budget we compare when we weigh the [Swiss Travel Pass against the Half Fare Card](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/swiss-travel-pass-vs-half-fare-card). If you want your trip designed with the luggage logistics already solved, [ask one of our travel designers](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/plan-your-trip) for a custom version. More guides: [Switzerland by train](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/swiss-trains)[Planning](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/planning)[Accessible travel](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/accessible) ## Related destinations - [Switzerland](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/switzerland) ## Contents Written by ### [Valentine Julien](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien) Global Manager · Based in Villefranche-sur-Saône Grew up between the French and Swiss Alps; designs our scenic train and mountain itineraries and has strong opinions about hotels. [More about Valentine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien) ## Trips for this guide - [![Legendary Swiss Trains](/_astro/01M5J4124NCZ8M7GK939T8W5Z8.DuO0OEHt_2ePJvK.webp)**Legendary Swiss Trains: Glacier Express, Bernina & Gornergrat, 7 Days**From €2,199 · 7 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) - [![Switzerland : 12 day scenic train rides, mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124NCCP82JJ7FY8RXAQ4.CeI7SiQJ_Z1oIPLB.webp)**Switzerland by Train in 12 Days: Lavaux, Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express**From €3,499 · 12 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate) - [![From Switzerland to Italy : medieval towns, outdoor fun and italian riviera](/_astro/01M5J4124QMGRZKA4DGVWAAVSG.CZhi2FDY_ZKyIQy.webp)**Switzerland to Italy by Train: Alps, Lucerne & Lake Como in 14 Days**From €5,499 · 14 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) When you’re ready, we’re ready ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a luggage limit on Swiss trains? There is no check-in and SBB publishes no weight limit for luggage you carry yourself on Swiss trains, but you must handle it without help and keep aisles and doors clear. Panoramic trains are stricter in practice: the Glacier Express recommends one suitcase plus hand luggage and refuses ski bags, golf bags and oversized items, and the Bernina Express has limited space. ### How much does SBB luggage forwarding cost in 2026? Station to station costs CHF 12 per item, with collection two days later. Door to door costs CHF 50 per order plus CHF 12 per item, with a CHF 30 surcharge for car-free resorts such as Zermatt and CHF 50 for same-day express where available. Each bag can weigh up to 23 kg. ### Does Fly Rail Baggage still exist? Not in its old form. Today you hand in your bag at a Swiss station the day before your flight and collect it at the SBB counter at Zurich Airport, then check it in yourself, for CHF 24 per item. In Geneva, SBB's partner Airportr collects bags from hotels for some airlines. Visitors book the Zurich service through a tour operator. ### Where do you put big suitcases on Swiss trains? In the space between back-to-back seats, under the seats, or on the racks near the doors. On double-deck InterCity trains, racks sit at the top of the stairs, and IC2000 lower decks have extra space. Overhead racks are for small bags. Board the least busy car shown in the SBB occupancy forecast. ## Plan this trip Day by day, with prices. Each one is reshaped around you. [All itineraries](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages) ![Legendary Swiss Trains](/_astro/01M5J4124NCZ8M7GK939T8W5Z8.DuO0OEHt_1szWel.webp) 7 days / 6 nights ### [Legendary Swiss Trains: Glacier Express, Bernina & Gornergrat, 7 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) Six nights by train from Interlaken to Lucerne, with the GoldenPass, the Gornergrat, the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, in 4-star hotels beside each station. For first-time visitors who want the big views without a car. From **€2,199** per person ![Switzerland : 12 day scenic train rides, mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124NCCP82JJ7FY8RXAQ4.CeI7SiQJ_Z2aYD41.webp) 12 days / 11 nights ### [Switzerland by Train in 12 Days: Lavaux, Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate) Eleven nights by train from Montreux to Zurich: Lavaux, the Chocolate Train, Jungfraujoch, Zermatt and the Glacier Express to St. Moritz. Well-placed 3-star hotels keep the price down; we upgrade one or two stops on request. From **€3,499** per person ![From Switzerland to Italy : medieval towns, outdoor fun and italian riviera](/_astro/01M5J4124QMGRZKA4DGVWAAVSG.CZhi2FDY_Z1wOw8X.webp) 14 days / 13 nights ### [Switzerland to Italy by Train: Alps, Lucerne & Lake Como in 14 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/from-switzerland-to-italy-medieval-towns-outdoor-fun-and-italian-riviera) Thirteen nights from Zurich to Milan by train: Rhine Falls, kayaking on Lake Brienz, the Schilthorn, a via ferrata, Rigi, Lugano, Lake Como and the Borromean Islands. Central 3-star hotels; an active trip with full days. From **€5,499** per person ## More to read [All articles](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) ![Bruges day trip, Belgium, Alsace & Switzerland by Train in 10 Days: Brussels to Zermatt](/_astro/01M5J4124F9898DRNEPH0JP7SQ.DNiEi1bB_Z2qfxPT.webp) Europe ### [First Trip to Europe: 12 Mistakes Americans Make, and Where to Go Instead](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/mistakes-americans-make-when-planning-a-europe-trip) First trip to Europe? Passport and border rules for 2026-2027, the 12 planning mistakes we fix most often, and the best places and routes for a first visit. ![Louvres 2](/_astro/01M5J4124TH85KSQXM9T8Y1ZY5.L2gk6rxe_NDpSr.webp) Europe ### [The Most Wheelchair Accessible Cities in Europe, Judged City by City](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/most-accessible-cities-in-europe) The most wheelchair accessible cities in Europe, judged on terrain, transport, sights and hotels: Zurich, Berlin, Munich, Lyon, Nice, Paris and the hard ones. ![Gruyères](/_astro/01M5J4124R4BE58HHC3508AV4M._aLDk73f_f1u3O.webp) Switzerland ### [Switzerland Off the Beaten Path: 9 Quiet Places Beyond Zurich and Geneva](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/hidden-gems-in-switzerland-beyond-zurich-and-geneva) Switzerland off the beaten path: Appenzell, Guarda, Val Müstair, Sils, Soglio, Ticino valleys, Lavaux and Kandersteg, with train times, seasons and nights. Tailor-made, from France ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. 1. 1Share your dates and wishes 2. 2Get a priced itinerary within 48 hours 3. 3Refine it together, then travel 9 travel designers in Lyon and Nice reply to every request themselves. ★★★★★ > “A wonderful travel partner” Carol W., Seattle, WA · 4.8/5 on 273 reviews - [US+1 607 354 8896](tel:+16073548896) - [Europe+33 4 26 30 36 82](tel:+33426303682) - [contact@mobeeinternational.com](mailto:contact@mobeeinternational.com) Two minutes, three steps. 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