Swiss railway companies BLS and SBB will expand their collaboration in long-distance rail services. Starting December 2025, BLS will operate the new long-distance route, IR56, connecting Biel/Bienne, Delémont, and Basel. This development will offer passengers on this route a new half-hourly service for long-distance travel.
From December 2025, travellers in Northwestern Switzerland will benefit from better services. Introducing a double track between Grellingen and Duggingen enables a new half-hourly frequency for the Biel/Bienne–Delémont–Basel SBB long-distance route. BLS has agreed to operate the additional long-distance connection, IR56. The second long-distance service on this route, IC51, will continue to be operated by SBB and will be extended to Lausanne from its current terminus at Biel/Bienne starting December 2025.
BLS plans to deploy seven newly ordered Stadler FLIRT trains on the planned services, branded as “MIKA”. These trains have 242 seats, a 2+1 seating arrangement in first class, multifunction zones for bicycles and luggage, and a bistro zone, catering to customer needs and expected passenger numbers. BLS also intends to promote tourist destinations along the new long-distance line, similar to its current marketing efforts in various regions of its network.
The long-distance cooperation between SBB and BLS began in 2019. BLS has operated the Bern‒Olten, Bern‒Biel/Bienne, and Bern‒Neuchâtel‒La Chaux-de-Fonds lines since 2019 and 2020. The railway companies SBB, BLS, and SOB have agreed to continue this successful Swiss cooperative model in long-distance travel for the next concession period starting December 2029.
How does it work?
SBB holds the long-distance concession but assigns the operation of certain long-distance lines to BLS and SOB. The companies, along with the Federal Office of Transport (BAV), finalized a basis agreement at the end of 2022 to formalize this arrangement.
