Hundreds of Swiss Railway Stations Still Await Accessibility Upgrades

Only 1,168 of about 1,800 railway stations were accessible to people with disabilities at the end of 2025, according to a Federal Office of Transport progress report. The Disability Equality Act set a deadline of the end of 2023 for railway operators to make stations accessible. That deadline has passed, while hundreds of upgrades remain outstanding.

The work completed so far reaches most passengers because larger stations were modernised first: 83% of passengers can now use accessible stations. The Federal Office of Transport expects that share to reach 87% by 2029, as another 193 stations are upgraded.

The figures sharpen a distinction between passenger coverage and the reach of the network. Many people may travel through accessible major hubs, while smaller stations remain difficult to use. For people with disabilities, Christian Lohr, a Centre Party parliamentarian, said, “Mobility is important for people with disabilities to participate in social life.”

A backlog of 454 stations remains, with 261 not due for upgrades until after 2029. The Federal Office of Transport report attributes delays to limited planning resources, staff shortages and financial constraints. Those bottlenecks are slowing implementation even as the law’s original deadline has expired.

The federal government has allocated an additional CHF 250 million for accessibility under its 2025–2028 service agreement. The funding adds support, while the scale and timing of the remaining station work continue to define the challenge facing operators.

For around 150 stations, a complete refurbishment is considered disproportionate. The report says permanent alternative measures will be provided at these locations, including help from staff. That approach recognises that station layouts and upgrade needs differ, while keeping assistance part of the long-term plan. The broader target remains to expand access across the network and raise the share of passengers served by accessible stations to 87% by 2029.

Half of Switzerland’s 25,000 bus stops can be used spontaneously by passengers with reduced mobility, the report says. Its first assessment of bus stops also counted 48,000 kerb edges, a measure that shows how boarding access varies from one stop to another.

Independent boarding is guaranteed at 13% of kerb edges. At another 37%, passengers need help from driving staff, usually through a folding ramp. The remaining 42% cannot be used either independently or with staff assistance. At those locations, the report says, alternative arrangements are essential. Usually, a shuttle takes passengers to the nearest stop that complies with the Disability Equality Act.

The figures distinguish a stop that can be used with help from one where boarding is independent. For passengers planning a journey, both conditions matter: many locations rely on staff assistance, while a substantial share require a separate transport arrangement. The bus-stop findings extend the accessibility picture beyond railway platforms to local public transport.

Inclusion Handicap is calling for a task force to identify the obstacles and funding needs behind the delays. The umbrella organisation for people with disabilities said implementation of public-transport accessibility is slowing. At a round-table discussion chaired by Transport Minister Albert Rösti, authorities and transport operators made no binding commitments, according to the organisation.

Rösti told the media that “the inner determination to make real progress is there.” Inclusion Handicap co-president Olga Manfredi warned that “People with disabilities are clearly losing out when it comes to new large-scale projects.” The organisation argues that accessible public transport is necessary for inclusion.

The next scheduled milestone is 2029, when the planned upgrades to 193 stations are expected to lift passenger coverage from 83% to 87%. Hundreds of stations will still require adaptation, and 261 are set for work after that year. The task force proposed by Inclusion Handicap would focus on identifying barriers to delivery and funding as Switzerland works through the remaining projects.