Half-fare
| Half-fare | |
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| Prices | 185 CHF (in the first year) 165 CHF (subsequent years with seamless renewal) 120 CHF Half-Fare travelcard for 16 to 25 year olds 100 CHF (subsequent years with seamless renewal) |
| Number of users | 2,500,000 (December 19, 2017) |
The Half-Fare ( French Demi-tarif , Italian Metà-prezzo , Romansh Mesa taxa , English Half-Fare travelcard ) is a half-fare subscription (50 percent discount on regular prices) for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).
In addition to the SBB, the Half-Fare travelcard is valid for almost all public transport companies in Switzerland. At the end of 2017, there were 2,500,000 half-fare cards in circulation.
From August 1, 2015, the Half-Fare travelcard will be integrated into the new SwissPass , which contains two chips, when purchased .
history
The Half-Fare travelcard was introduced in 1890 (the general travelcard earlier, namely in 1875) and was then aimed exclusively at business travelers. In 1968 seniors were given the opportunity to buy discounted Half-Fare travelcards. The Half-Fare travelcard thus gained importance in leisure traffic.
The forest dieback led to a political discussion about environmental protection. In 1987 parliament decided to lower the half-fare card from CHF 360 to CHF 100 as part of the Bahn 2000 project. Within two years, sales increased from 660,000 to more than two million. The Half-Fare travelcard costs 185 francs today; Due to the inflation since 1987, a price of 147 francs would have been expected. Contrary to the widespread fears of the tourist railways (cable cars, other mountain railways), the greatly increased use of public transport has made up for the financial losses due to the discounted subscription.
The proceeds from the half-fare sale are distributed among the various participating transport companies in proportion to the actual loss of income from half-fare travelers. For very small businesses (e.g. cable cars), billing with the SBB causes too much administrative effort so that it is not worthwhile for them to accept the Half-Fare travelcard. However, Halbtax owners often still receive a 20 to 25 percent discount because the customer might not have started the trip without the Halbtax. 120 of the 300 railways participating in the Half-Fare travelcard are cable car companies (as of 2000).
Discounts
With the purchase of a Half-Fare Card, the owner pays only half the normal price on almost all public transport routes in Switzerland (rail, postbus , bus services, urban transport, ships) (except for short trips). The scope is shown on a map from Trafimage . The routes with a 50 percent discount are identical to those on which the general subscription grants a discount of at least 50 percent or free travel.
The Half-Fare travelcard entitles you to travel in first class, with the first class fare being reduced by 50 percent.
Further discounts
In pure city and local traffic, as well as for very short distances, the fare reduction is less than 50 percent. For trips from Switzerland to Germany or Austria , a 25 percent discount is granted for the part of the route outside Switzerland as part of the so-called TEE Rail Alliance . For a weekend trip to Austria, the Netherlands and Hungary, this discount increases to 50 percent for return tickets, provided that the booking is made at least three days in advance and seats are reserved for each train that can be reserved (“TEE Plan and Spar”). The half-fare subscription pays for itself quite quickly, so the card helps to save travel costs. Another advantage of the Half-Fare Card is the entitlement to purchase day tickets (currently price 73 Swiss francs ), which, like the general subscription , are valid in the entire network of the companies involved.
Special versions
Half-fare card with an integrated credit card
Since autumn 2008, the SBB has been offering a half-fare card with an integrated Visa credit card in addition to the normal half-fare card . This offer was launched with BonusCard.ch AG and, at a price of 150 francs, was cheaper than the simple half-fare card. This offer expired with the introduction of the SwissPass.
Half-fare youth card
In May 2019, the youth half-fare card for 16 to 25 year olds was introduced. It initially cost CHF 100 as an introductory price, and since May 2020 CHF 120. With automatic renewal, the card costs the loyalty price of CHF 100.
Loss etc.
In the event of loss, theft or damage, the Half-Fare travelcard will be reimbursed on presentation of official ID, the purchase receipt and a fee of 30 francs. Anyone who has forgotten their Half-Fare travelcard can buy a full-price ticket at the counter and have the forgotten note noted on the ticket. If you show the Half-Fare travelcard and ticket at the counter later, you will get the difference back minus five francs. If an official ID can be presented at the counter before the trip or during the journey on the train, you only pay a fee of five francs in addition to half the ticket and the subscription does not have to be presented at the counter afterwards. A receipt will be issued which, together with the ID, is valid as a half-fare card.
See also
- Customer cards from railway companies
- BahnCard 50 (Germany)
- Advantage card (Austria)
- General subscription
- Platform 7
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Through Switzerland at half price. Swiss Federal Railways SBB, accessed on December 19, 2017 .
- ↑ a b 2.5 million Half-Fare travelcard customers - more than ever before. Swiss Federal Railways SBB, accessed on December 19, 2017 .
- ↑ Sillonner la Suisse à moitié prix. (No longer available online.) CFF SA (Swiss Federal Railways SBB), archived from the original on May 11, 2015 ; accessed on May 10, 2015 (French). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Tutta la Svizzera a metà prezzo. FFS SA (Swiss Federal Railways SBB), accessed on May 10, 2015 (Italian).
- ↑ "Swiss Pass" remplazza GA e mesa taxa. Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha (RTR), March 10, 2015, accessed on May 10, 2015 (Romansh).
- ↑ Half-price across Switzerland. Swiss Federal Railways SBB, accessed on May 10, 2015 (English).
- ↑ SwissPass - the key to your mobility. Swiss Federal Railways SBB, accessed on June 22, 2015 .
- ↑ SwissPass. In: swisspass.ch. Swiss Federal Railways SBB, accessed on June 22, 2015 .
- ↑ Questions to Dr. Benedikt Weibel . In: Eisenbahn-Revue International . No. 3 , 2013, p. 146-149 .
- ↑ http://www.portal-stat.admin.ch/lik_rechner/d/lik_rechner.htm
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from May 18, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ sbb.ch: Scope of the Half-Fare Card ( Memento of the original from October 10, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 801 kB)
- ↑ sbb.ch: SBB launches Jelmoli Bonus Card and Visa free credit card ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , June 12, 2008
- ↑ sbb.ch: Frequently asked questions and answers ( Memento of the original from January 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. to Half-Fare travelcard with Visa card
- ↑ https://www.sbb.ch/de/abos-billette/abonnemente/halbtax.html
