Transportation

We show you how public transport works in the Canton of Zurich and especially in the Winterthur area, how to get your tickets and where to buy an abonnement. There are buses and trains.

How to get money cheaper than its value?

Yes, in Switzerland it is possible to get money cheaper than its value! What do you have to do?
There are two possibilities: firstly, rob it from another person (we wouldn't suggest you to do it so!) or secondly - and this is the normal way and our suggestion - buy "Reka-Schecks"(Reka checks).
Coop for example offers a discount of 3%; ask at the information desk, what you have to do to get Reka-Schecks with a discount of 3%.
There are many restaurants and hostels who accept Reka-Schecks. But the main advantage is that you can buy your train and special bus tickets with them directly at the automats (10 Francs items) or on the ticket corner!

Normal Tickets (ZVV)

You get the tickets at the stations and bus stops. If your target station is in the list "Kurzstrecke" (short distance) on the station, press this button. Otherwise, you have to buy a normal ticket. If you just need a ticket in Winterthur, there is a special ticket which you can buy at the train station. It’s known as “Mehrfahrtenkarte” (Multiple Ride Card) and you can use th card for six rides (see below). For more information click here www.wv-winterthur.ch

Special ticket offers

Half-Fare Card

There are some other subscriptions. We have the "Halbtax-Abo" (half-fare card), which is available for a year. It’s not very expensive and you pay half the price in Switzerland for almost all means of every public transports.

Gleis7

With the "Gleis7" ticket you can travel for free after 7p.m. on the whole SBB railway system in Switzerland!
But it DOES NOT include the many buses (ZVV, ...) and the "Nachtzuschlag" (additional night price; name of buses and trains begin with a "N") - 5.00 CHF - after the last regular train (mostly after midnight).
To buy a "Gleis7", you ned a "Halbtax" (half-fare card); both together cost CHF 249.- for one year. Please ask the SBB sales agency for more information.

Multiple Journey Ticket / Standing Order Ticket

The “Mehrfahrtenkarte” (multiple journey ticket) is also available for other zones in the Canton Zurich. If your accommodation is in Winterthur it’s useful to have a bus “Mehrfahrtenkarte” or an "Abonnement" (standing order ticket) during your stay. It’s much cheaper.
Ask at the ticket corner at the train station for more information or go to www.zvv.ch.

Zones in Canton of Zurich / Connection Ticket

There are different zones in the Canton of Zurich. For the both cities Zurich and Winterthur, the zones 20 and 10 each count as two; so, if you have a zone 20 ticket (Winterthur) and you want - for example - to go to Zurich, you can buy an "Anschlussbillet" (connection ticket) of 4 zones (22, 21 and 10).

Timetable

Timetables are available at the train stations. There is also a time table at every bus stop. If you have to find out the departure time for a train check the website of the Swiss Federal Railways www.sbb.ch.

Cycling - more than an alternative

Winterthur is known as a green and a bicycle city. It’s very useful to get a cheap bicycle. Ask your students or colleagues. ESN Winterthur also offers the Bike Rental.