Commuting between France and Geneva

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Commuting between France and Geneva

Website Unireso has information on the various forms of public transport in Geneva and the French départements Haute-Savoie (74) and Ain (01). This includes maps of the transport networks as well as practical information on fares, season tickets, timetables and ticket sales outlets.

• Unireso website (in French)

Trains

Swiss trains are run by the Swiss Federal Railway Network SBB/CFF/FFS (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, Chemins de Fer Fédéraux Suisses, Ferrovie Federali Svizzere).

The SBB website has information for commuters and frequent travellers and allows a search to compare costs and find appropriate tickets.

• For information on commuting by train: Click here 
• To buy a train ticket online: Click here (proof of ID required on presentation of the ticket)

Stations

There are two railway stations in Geneva. 

1. The main station is Cornavin and this is linked to both the Swiss and French railway network, as well as Cointrin airport.

• Cornavin train station
  At: Place de Cornavin, 1201 Geneva
• For a map of the area around Cornavin station: Click here

There is a French sector where TGV and TER trains arrive from France. A customs post is located on the platforms. There is an SNCF ticket office at the station. The main commuting towns from France to Geneva are on the following line:

• Aix-les-Bains – Culoz – Bellegarde – Geneva

2. The second station is Eaux-Vives.

• Eaux-Vives train station
  At: Avenue de la Gare des Eaux Vives, 1207 Geneva

The station has suburban links to Annemasse and regional links to other stations in Haute Savoie. The main commuting towns from France to Geneva are on the following lines:

• Evian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains - Geneva
• Chamonix – Saint-Gervais-les-Bains - Cluses – La-Roche-sur-Foron - Geneva
• Aix les Bains - Annecy - La Roche sur Foron – Geneva

Buses 

Public transport in Geneva is run by the Transport Public Genevois (TPG).

• At: Route de la Chapelle 1, 1212 Grand-Lancy
  Tel: 0900 022 021 Monday to Saturday 07:00-20:00, Sundays and public holidays from 08:30-12:00 and 12:30-17:00
  Website

There are two main bus stations, at Geneva airport and at Place Dorcière, many buses stop in Place de Cornavin, Bel-Air, Rive, Place des Eaux Vives and Place de la Poste. 

Bus lines run to the centre of Geneva from:

• Ain (01):
  Gex and Ferney-Voltaire
  Thoiry, Sergy and Saint-Genis-Pouilly
• Haute-Savoie (74):
  Veigy-Foncenex
  Pougny
  Valleiry, Viry and Saint-Julien

There are also many bus routes to Gaillard, Annemasse, Ambilly, Vétraz-Monthoux and Ville-la-Grand.

• To download the TPG timetable: Click here and select a bus line 
• An online route planner is available: Click here 
• The Gare Routière de Genève has information on buses and coaches departing from Geneva. For a timetable of cross border public transport: Click here

TPG tickets are sold in St-Genis-Pouilly, Annemasse, St-Julien, Viry and Gex.

• For a list of ticket outlets: Click here 

Fares and Season Tickets 

The TPG offers fares and season tickets that can be used on trains, buses, trams and Mouettes. The transport network is split into zones and the cost of transport varies according to the number of zones passed through.

• For information on fares and season tickets: Click here 

Frossard, part of the Veolia Transport group, has two routes from Annecy and one from Evian-les-Bains to Geneva. 

• Annecy – La-Roche-sur-Foron – Reigner – Annemasse – Geneva
• Annecy – Cruseilles – Saint-Julien – Geneva
• Evian-les-Bains – Thonon-les-Bains – Douvaine – Veigy - Geneva
• For a list of all routes in the region: Click here
• For a timetable of regular lines: Click here
• For information on fares: Click here
• For information on ticket points of sale: Click here

Boat Travel to Geneva

The Compagnie Générale de Navigation (CGN) operates the Navibus service on Lake Léman with crossings between:

• Nyon – Yvoire
• Nyon – Chens-sur-Léman
• Geneva - Nyon
• Thonon-les-Bains - Nyon - Geneva
• Evian-les Bains - Lausanne-Ouchy
• For information on timetables: Click here 

Boats arrive in Geneva at the Jardin Anglais and leave from the Quai du Mont Blanc where there is a waiting room for commuters. The boat has first and second class seats with space for up to 120 passengers.

• Compagnie Générale de Navigation 
  At: Avenue de Rhodanie 17, Case postale 116, 1000 Lausanne 6
  Information Tel: +41 (0)848 811 848
  e-mail
  Website

Further Information

• Genève Gare Routière
• Swiss Federal Railway Network
• Unireso
• Information on public transport in France, Geneva and Vaud: Click here
• See also AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Public Transport in Geneva
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Railways & Train Travel in Geneva, Switzerland