Passengers on public regional bus services between Italy and Switzerland will be able to board and alight within both countries and not only on either side of the border. Transport Minister Albert Rösti has signed a bilateral agreement to this effect. The agreement will come into force in 2025.
Regular bus services between Lombardy and the canton of Ticino, between Aosta and the Lower Valais or between Chiavenna and the Engadine will benefit from this, said the minister. Passengers from both sides of the border will be able to get on and off at all regional bus stops. Cross-border “cabotage” is therefore permitted at regional level.
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Currently, an Italian-registered bus from Martigny to Aosta could not pick up passengers in Martigny and let them out in elsewhere in Switzerland and vice versa. In future, a Postbus theoretically linking Sion to Milan via Martigny will be able to pick up passengers in Martigny or Aosta and take them to the capital of Lombardy.
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Offers will be more attractive and simpler. The quality of regional transport will be improved, says the Federal Department of Transport (DETEC).
Similar agreements to facilitate cross-border public transport already exist with Germany, Austria and France. This new agreement does not apply to private international routes such as those offered by Flixbus or Eurolines, for example.
Adapted from French by DeepL/ac
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