Commuting between France and Geneva

Information on commuting to Geneva from France, by boat, train or bus. Here you will find contact information and details of the different public transport companies that travel to Geneva from cross-border France...

Website Unireso has information on the various forms of public transport in Geneva and the French départements Haute-Savoie (74) and Ain (01). This includes maps of the transport networks as well as practical information on fares, season tickets, timetables and ticket sales outlets.

Trains

Swiss trains are run by the Swiss Federal Railway Network SBB/CFF/FFS (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, Chemins de Fer Fédéraux Suisses, Ferrovie Federali Svizzere).

The SBB website has information for commuters and frequent travellers and allows a search to compare costs and find appropriate tickets.

Stations

There are two railway stations in Geneva.

1. The main station is Cornavin and this is linked to both the Swiss and French railway network, as well as Cointrin airport.

  • Cornavin train station
    At    : Place de Cornavin, 1201 Geneva
  • To download a map of the network: Click here

There is a French sector where TGV and TER trains arrive from France. A customs post is located on the platforms. There is an SNCF ticket office at the station. The main commuting towns from France to Geneva are on the following line:

  • Aix-les-Bains – Culoz – Bellegarde – Geneva

2. The second station is Eaux-Vives.

  • Eaux-Vives train station
    At: Avenue de la Gare des Eaux Vives, 1207 Geneva

The station has suburban links to Annemasse and regional links to other stations in Haute Savoie. The main commuting towns from France to Geneva are on the following lines:

  • Evian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains - Geneva
  • Chamonix – Saint-Gervais-les-Bains - Cluses – La-Roche-sur-Foron - Geneva
  • Aix les Bains - Annecy - La Roche sur Foron – Geneva

Buses

Public transport in Geneva is run by the Transport Public Genevois (TPG).

  • At: Route de la Chapelle 1, 1212 Grand-Lancy
    Tel: 0900 022 021 Monday to Saturday 07:00-20:00, Sundays and public holidays from 08:30-12:00 and 12:30-17:00

There are two main bus stations, at Geneva airport and at Place Dorcière, many buses stop in Place de Cornavin, Bel-Air, Rive, Place des Eaux Vives and Place de la Poste.

Bus lines run to the centre of Geneva from:

  • Ain (01):
    Gex and Ferney-Voltaire
    Thoiry, Sergy and Saint-Genis-Pouilly
  • Haute-Savoie (74):
    Veigy-Foncenex
    Pougny
    Valleiry, Viry and Saint-Julien

There are also many bus routes to Gaillard, Annemasse, Ambilly, Vétraz-Monthoux and Ville-la-Grand.

  • To download the TPG timetable: Click here and select a bus line
  • An online route planner is available: Click here

TPG tickets are sold in St-Genis-Pouilly, Annemasse, St-Julien, Viry and Gex.

Fares and Season Tickets

The TPG offers fares and season tickets that can be used on trains, buses, trams and Mouettes. The transport network is split into zones and the cost of transport varies according to the number of zones passed through.

  • For information on fares and season tickets: Click here

Frossard, part of the Veolia Transport group, has two routes from Annecy and one from Evian-les-Bains to Geneva.

  • Annecy – La-Roche-sur-Foron – Reigner – Annemasse – Geneva
  • Annecy – Cruseilles – Saint-Julien – Geneva
  • Evian-les-Bains – Thonon-les-Bains – Douvaine – Veigy - Geneva
  • For a list of all routes in the region: Click here
  • For information on fares: Click here
  • For information on ticket points of sale: Click here

Boat Travel to Geneva

The Compagnie Générale de Navigation (CGN) operates the Navibus service on Lake Léman with crossings between:

  • Nyon – Yvoire
  • Nyon – Chens-sur-Léman
  • Geneva - Nyon
  • Thonon-les-Bains - Nyon - Geneva
  • Evian-les Bains - Lausanne-Ouchy
  • For information on timetables: Click here

Boats arrive in Geneva at the Jardin Anglais and leave from the Quai du Mont Blanc where there is a waiting room for commuters. The boat has first and second class seats with space for up to 120 passengers.

Further Information