Swiss cities’ public transport systems revise their schedules every December, with the changes timed to match new CFF Swiss rail schedules. Geneva’s changes are heavier than usual for 2012 and combined with major renovations at Cornavin station, it’s not always easy to work out times and fares. The TPG public transport system is offering two good options, in addition to its useful web site: if you prefer to ask in person, find one of the TPG associates who walk around stops and stations wearing bright orange jackets or ask at the Plainpalais Circle temporary booth.
Geneva's trams, buses, have new schedules starting 11 December
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Geneva public transport system (TPG) buses and trams will run on new schedules, new routes and new fares starting 11 December, the same day the new CFF Swiss rail schedule goes into effect.
This year’s annual changes are more significant than in some years, the result of a major and ongoing overhaul to better service the growing population. The new system can be reviewd line by line on the TPG web site, in French. To make sure your line is still running and at what time, you can also enter your itinerary on the route planner, in English.
New fares are available in French and English.
If you’d rather ask a question in person, you can either go to one of the TPG associates who are walking around stops and stations wearing bright orange jackets or go to the Plainpalais Circle temporary booth.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Tribune de Geneve reports that a man suspected of the murder of a 51-year-old TPG (Geneva public transport) company manager was arrested abroad and is being investigated by Geneva police. According to the city newspaper the man, who is an employee of the company, has had personal problems in recent months that have caused him trouble at work, but the TPG has provided him with support and some time off. He was scheduled to met his boss Monday morning to discuss getting back to work and reportedly walked in and shot him instead.
The murder was Geneva’s fifth in 2011.
Murderer remains at large after Monday morning shooting
TPG tram in Geneva; maintenance manager shot and killed at work
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A 51-year-old Frenchman who was a maintenance department manager for the TPG public transport company was shot and killed at work Monday moring 22 August, at 10:00.
The murderer arrived on a motorcycle, wearing a helmet and kept the helmet on while he walked into the office area. He shot his victim, then left on his motorcycle.
Police have a number of clues but the killer remains at large. A number of co-workers who were present at the time of the shooting are being given counseling.
Fewer Geneva roadworks, as tram goes into service
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – If you haven’t yet done so, be sure to shift your radio settings to find World Radio Switzerland in its new FM home: 101.7FM. And this is the weekend when the TPG (Geneva public transport) puts its new schedule into effect, including the new line to Meyrin and more frequent buses and trams on several lines, so doublecheck your travel plans if you’re heading across town. Monday 14 December the new CFF rail schedule goes into effect for all of Switzerland, so make no assumptions about when your train is leaving. Two additional trains should make life easier for urban commuters: an extra late afternoon train from Bern to Zurich (16:14) is designed to ease pressure on that often-packed line, as is an 18:31 regional train from Lausanne to Geneva.
Links for details: CFF, TPG (note: Sunday night the site was being updated), WRS
New trams to Meyrin from Saturday 12 December
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Geneva’s tram lines 14 and 16 will go all the way to Meyrin starting 12 December with five new stops in the town of Meyrin itself. The city’s public transport company, TPG, says that its entire route network has been extended and the frequency of bus and tram services increased.
The fare zones have been changed, partly in anticipation of the joint venture with canton Vaud’s Mobilis fare cooperative starting in late 2010, which will allow a person to travel from Annemasse to Lausanne and beyond with a single ticket. TPG also announced that its call up service Taxibus will be cancelled.
Until 1995, the only tram was the 12 from Carouge to Bachet. From 1995, TPG began important extensions to the tram network which now covers 30km of routes.
Background: “Vaud’s Mobilis tickets to cover most of canton“, 02 December 2009, GenevaLunch
No place to run if you don't pay your ticket
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Transports Publics Genevois (TPG) say that it is getting serious about people who don’t pay for public transportation. The company has added eight new inspectors to the 54 it already has, is increasing the frequency of its ticket controls on board Geneva’s buses and trams, and the fines are going up.
Donations: UNHCR site or Facebook
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Geneva’s city buses will offer riders a new and more worthy than usual distraction from 15 April to 30 June: Gimme Shelter, a 30-second film by a short film directed by Ben Affleck and filmed by John Toll, both Academy Award winners, will be shown on 200 TPG buses, trams and trolleys that have Innova screens.
Ben Affleck, filming at UNHCR refugee camp
The film is the centerpiece to a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) campaign to raise money during 2009 for clean water and emergency humanitarian assistance kits for displaced persons in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to the UNHCR, “There are currently 1.3 million displaced people in the DRC. The effects of the conflict have claimed as many as 5.4 million lives in the last 10 years, with an estimated 1,000 people dying every day.
Refugee camp, DCR (image for UNHCR 2009 ©Zalmai, reproduced with permission)
“In some areas, two out of three women have been raped. Abductions persist in all brutal forms and children are forcefully recruited to fight. Outbreaks of cholera and other diseases have increased as the humanitarian situation deteriorates.”
