Ode to the Swiss Transportation Network
SBB*, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
I love thine extensive, inter-connecting network of trams, buses, trains, boats, funiculars, and donkey carts (ok, maybe there aren’t any donkey carts) which whisk me away to any corner of Switzerland with the greatest of ease.
I love how very very clean and pleasant-smelling thine vehicles are, how free from smoke, gum, and grime.
I love how thine website will tell me exactly how to get, via public transport and foot, from any address in Switzerland to any other address in the entire country, and in the language of my choosing.
I love how thou always adequately staffs thine ticket counters, so I never have to fear missing a train while waiting in line.
I love how very very punctual thine transportation is, and how thou apologizeth for even the smallest of delays.
I love how thine workers don’t strike. Ever. And thou just keepeth getting better.
Today I ventured outside the city to go to a friend’s house out in the boonies. The trip took an hour and required me to make two different bus connections. As I sat on the first bus, I perused my itinerary (printed out from sbb.ch) and saw that I only had 2 minutes to change buses each time. While I might have worried in a place like, well, anywhere but Switzerland, I knew I could just sit back and enjoy the ride…
Because I am a glutton for punishment, I am taking a train to France later this week. Thinking back on my previous experiences with French trains, the word “retard” jumps to mind. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure, French trains are everything that Swiss trains are not. From my understanding, French train workers are the only people in the world who make Italian train workers look like dedicated, reasonable, hard-working employees.
Wish me luck.
* SBB is also known as CFF or FFS, depending upon which language is dominant in the particular part of Switzerland you happen to be in. Also, SBB would like you to know that the image in this post is © SBB photo.
