Press releases
Winter-Express Sargans–Flumserberg
PostBus took a new approach in developing a temporary “Winter-Express” service: the transport company asked winter sports enthusiasts from Sargans and the surrounding area to define the perfect bus route to Flumserberg. Participants in Switzerland’s first bus vote defined the stops of the “Winter-Express” from Sargans to Flumserberg. Thanks to the small number of stops on the route and direct access to the mountain railway, the seasonal bus route is as fast as travelling in your own car.
Rich Content Section
Rich Content Section
Driving your own car to a winter sports resort is often challenging: traffic jams, weather hazards and finding a parking space can be nerve-wracking. The “Winter-Express” seasonal service between Sargans and Flumserberg offers a real alternative: the Postbus from Sargans via Flums to the mountain railways on the Flumserberg (Tannenheim, Tannenboden) is just as fast as driving in your own car. But winter sports enthusiasts reach their destination relaxed, saving money and their nerves.
No looking for parking spots
The journey with PostBus’ new Winter-Express service takes just 35 minutes. The Postbus takes passengers to the Tannenheim and Tannenboden cable cars – practically straight to the piste. Passengers no longer need to look for a parking space, buy a parking ticket or transfer to a parking shuttle. Customers pay the normal fare for the Winter-Express at no extra charge. Return tickets are available from just CHF 7.20 (with Half Fare Travelcard), making them less expensive than parking charges. GA Travelcard and Ostwind subscriptions also apply. By taking the Winter-Express, passengers are also helping to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions. The Winter-Express operates on Saturdays and Sundays in January and February 2023. There are two outward journeys in the morning and four return journeys in the afternoon.
Customers voted on the perfect bus route
The special thing about the Winter-Express is how it came about. Stakeholders in the region were able to vote online on the route of the temporary bus line, its stops and the timetable in Switzerland’s first bus vote. If the Winter Express is well received by passengers, PostBus will take this into account when planning future timetables and services. PostBus Ltd teamed up with the climate cooperative 42hacks from Trogen (canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden) for this project. The Winter Express is an example of how PostBus and 42hacks want to respond in a targeted manner to the needs of existing customers and the wishes of potential new customers.
Insights from data analyses?
The goal of the partnership is to use data analysis and the resulting innovative offers to change the modal split in favour of public transport. We want more passengers to use public transport rather their cars in their leisure time. PostBus and 42hacks are part of a consortium with representatives from Schweizerische Südostbahn AG (SOB), BLS and the Canton of St. Gallen. Under the project title “ÖV42”, they systematically track the change in the modal split.
The Winter-Express as one of several public transport experiments
The Winter Express from Sargans to Flumserberg is one of several initiatives that transport companies have launched together with 42hacks since the start in autumn 2022. 42hacks also refers to the initiatives as pop-up projects, which make it possible to gain valuable insights into the benefits of public transport over a specific period of time. This also includes potential customers.
Another project is being implemented in the Flumserberg region to reduce the number of car journeys: from January 2023, a train will run from Zurich HB to Unterterzen, reducing the journey time to the winter sports resort and including various special offers. The findings from these projects are used to the advantage of applicable solutions and are put forward jointly by the ÖV42 consortium.
