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Public Transportation
Trams & buses
Once you have registered you residence in the canton of Basel-Stadt or Canton of Baselland (as well as Aargau and Solothurn), you are entitled to a discounted monthly pass from the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB) as well as Baselland Transport AG (BLT). You can also buy it via your smartphone-app (only the personal, i.e.non-transferable monthly pass). The so-called Eco Pass Travel Card (U-Abo) is a very attractive offer because it covers not only the city of Basel and surrounding areas but also all of northwestern Switzerland for any trip by tram, bus and SBB train at a reduced price subsidized by the cantons as well as cross-border zone in Germany (Zones 1, 2 & 3 of the Regio Verkehrsverbund RVL) and in the French Distribus area. Young people up to the age of 25 benefit from an additional reduction. Users of the U-Abo can benefit from additional offers, such as a 20% discount on the use of Pick-e-Bike or discounted admission to concerts and musicals.
In contrast, persons who are not registered as residents or who do not live in the area covered by the Northwestern Switzerland transportation system pay the full price which is still attractive however. Young people up to the age of 25 benefit from a reduction. A temporary registration of residence (temporary permit) can be presented at the BVB Customer Center or at the service-point of BLT Baselland Transport AG at the Heuwaage location. You will then have your photo taken and the new U-Abo will be issued.
The pass can be issued at any time. You can save money by purchasing a yearly pass (12 months for the price of 10). The U-Abo lets users decide from month to month whether to purchase a pass and purchase it any time with an EC Maestro or Postfinance card from the tram ticket dispensers.
Occasional riders can benefit by purchasing a multi-trip ticket (for short distance, 1 or 2 zones) for a discounted price or a transferable (= übertragbares) U-Abo that can be shared with a housemate, for example. Multi-trip tickets are available at the BVB- and BLT-customer centers, at the SBB, at most ticket machines and many kiosks; they have to be validated at a ticket machine before commencing a trip. It can be also purchased via the TNW-App and valided before each trip.
Note: you must purchase a special ticket if you want to travel with a bike or pet. There are also special tickets for major events and late-night routes for partygoers.
Tip: children under six ride for free; ages 6-16 ride at a discounted price. The Junior travelcard available from the SBB might also be especially interesting for these riders.
Local cross-border public transportation
There are also great deals available for local cross-border public transportation:
- Germany: cooperation between the Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz (TNW) and Regio Verkehrsverbund Lörrach (RVL)
- France: Distribus + Reseaux Suisse T.N.W. / Ticket TriRegio as well as TER Alsace Forfaits Tri-Régio (Grand Est)
SBB – Swiss Federal Railways
The railway network in Switzerland is considered the most densely interlinked and one of the best in the world. Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) offers attractive discounts and various subscription-based passes (available on the SwissPass). Many residents in Switzerland make use of the popular half-fare travelcard (Halbtax-Abo), which offers a 50% discount on tickets, or the GA travelcard (unlimited travel). The seven25-travelcard (for unlimited travel between 7:00 pm and 5 am) is available to young people under 25. Families with children will benefit from the Junior travelcard. The Junior travelcard costs 30 francs per year and offers children and young people between the age of 6 and 16 travel on SBB trains free of charge when accompanied by a parent in addition to the routes operated by Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB). SBB is now also offering the Half Fare Travelcard PLUS (not to be confused with the "Halbtax-Abo") as a credit travelcard: Users pay in a certain amount of credit, with SBB taking a share of the credit. The available credit can be used for ticket purchases.
