Switzerland News Roundup on Tuesday:
Train Access to Zurich Airport Restricted Over Four Weekends
Heads up, travelers! Due to the ongoing construction work, Zurich Airport train access will be limited from January 17th, 11 pm, until February 10th. The national rail company, SBB, made this announcement on Monday.
During these weekends, long-distance lines and numerous Zurich S-Bahn trains will not be able to stop at the airport station. As a result, access to the airport from Zurich's central station, Oerlikon, and Winterthur/Eastern Switzerland will be limited.
To accommodate travelers, replacement trains will be put into service, but expect extended travel times by approximately 20 minutes on average. To avoid any last-minute surprises, the SBB recommends that all travelers check their connections online or in the SBB app before each journey.
Meanwhile, watch out for the flawed QuickZoll app used for calculating taxes on cross-border shopping. Some consumers have noticed that the app applies an 8.1-percent VAT to all types of purchases, even on goods such as food and medications that are subject to a lower rate of 2.6 percent. The Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection, responsible for collecting this VAT, will not be able to modify the app accordingly before 2026.
In the meantime, if you want to benefit from the reduced rate, you can verbally declare your goods to border guards.
Sunrise to Hike Rates in March
Flipping through your phone plan? You might want to reconsider. From March 1st, Switzerland's second-largest telecom provider, Sunrise, will increase its prices for mobile phone and internet contracts, affecting both new and existing customers. Monthly fees for mobile plans will rise by between 50 cents and 1.70 francs, while Internet plans will rise by between 1.40 and 2.30 francs per month. Sunrise justifies the price hike due to increased running costs, including electricity, salaries, and rents for their shops.
Prepare for chilly weather, folks! Switzerland is about to be hit by 'intense cold' starting today, with daytime temperatures of 0C and glacial nights, and temps in most Swiss regions (except Ticino) dipping below zero. According to MeteoNews weather service, the nights will remain very cold for about 10 days. If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, article ideas, or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@our website.
- For individuals planning travel during January 17th to February 10th, be aware that due to construction work at Zurich Airport, limited access by SBB trains may cause extended travel times.
- In a surprising turn, the QuickZoll app used for calculating taxes on cross-border shopping has an error, incorrectly applying an 8.1% VAT rate to items like food and medication, subject to a lower 2.6% rate.
- Swapping your phone plan might be necessary as of March 1st, as Sunrise, Switzerland's second-largest telecom provider, increases monthly fees for mobile and internet contracts.
- Brace yourselves for intense cold weather starting now, as daytime temperatures are expected to be 0C, plunging nighttime temperatures below zero in most Swiss regions, with the cold weather lasting approximately 10 days.
