Genève to Lausanne by Train
Genève and Lausanne sit close enough along Lake Geneva that trains run almost like a shuttle service between them, several times an hour throughout the day.
The journey
Trains from Genève to Lausanne run direct, up to six times an hour at peak times, and take about 40 minutes. It’s one of the busiest rail corridors in the country, so there’s rarely a long wait even outside the timetable’s headline frequency.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Duration | ≈ 40 min |
| Frequency | up to 6 per hour |
| Changes | Direct |
| Departs | Genève |
| Arrives | Lausanne |
Why this route matters
This stretch is the backbone connecting Genève, Lausanne and onward toward Montreux and the rest of French-speaking Switzerland, so it’s worth knowing well if you’re based in either city for a few days and plan day trips.
Which trains are fastest
Not every departure is the same speed, some stop only at Genève and Lausanne while others call at smaller stations in between, adding a few minutes. If timing is tight, it’s worth checking the exact service rather than just the next one listed.
Tickets
A Swiss Travel Pass covers this leg in full, and with departures this frequent, it’s easy to treat Lausanne as a half-day trip from Genève rather than a separate base.
Plan it live
With so many trains an hour, the platform and exact timing matter more than the wait itself, some services make extra stops and take slightly longer, which adds up if you’re catching a tight onward connection. The Swiss Transport app shows live departures and platforms so you catch the fastest option, not just the next one.
Plan Genève → Lausanne live
Free Swiss Transport app, live departures, platforms and every connection.