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Appenzeller Bahnen

Appenzeller Bahnen runs regional and rack trains between St. Gallen, Appenzell, Gais, Altstätten, Rorschach and Heiden. Tickets accept national Swiss passes.

Country
Switzerland
Official website
Official website
Train tickets
1

Appenzeller Bahnen is the regional railway of the Appenzell region in eastern Switzerland, reaching its 150th anniversary in 2026. It runs a mix of ordinary regional trains and one cogwheel line, which matters if you are planning a route through the hillier stretches: not every Appenzeller Bahnen train is the same kind of ride.

Named lines

The Altstätten to Gais line climbs on a rack-and-pinion cogwheel system, the steepest stretch on the network and the one worth booking specifically if you want the mountain-railway experience rather than a flat regional hop. The Rorschach to Heiden line has recently introduced new railcars, connecting the Lake Constance shore at Rorschach up to the hill town of Heiden. Between Gais and Appenzell, the line has recently gone through a full track renewal, and a separate route runs from Rheineck to Walzenhausen. Together these lines fan out from the St. Gallen area rather than forming one single through corridor, so check which named line covers your specific stretch before booking.

Tickets and passes

Appenzeller Bahnen sells its own digital tickets online and by smartphone, and its staffed sales point also carries the full SBB range, so you are not limited to a narrow local ticket type. The line accepts the standard national Swiss passes: the GA travelcard, the Halbtax half-fare card, the seven25 youth pass, and route or module season passes. The FAIRTIQ app, which checks you in and out automatically rather than requiring you to buy a fixed ticket in advance, also works across the network. Fares are in Swiss francs.

For a day trip that crosses into Germany or Austria around Lake Constance, the Bodensee Ticket (Bahn, Bus, Ferry) covers train, bus and ferry travel across all three countries on one ticket, useful if Heiden or Rorschach is only the first leg of a longer lakeside day.

Ownership

Appenzeller Bahnen is owned by the Swiss Confederation, the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St. Gallen and Thurgau, participating municipalities and the city of St. Gallen, and private shareholders, rather than by SBB, which is part of why it runs its own named lines and its own rolling-stock programme instead of operating purely as an SBB-contracted S-Bahn service.

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Frequently asked questions

What lines does Appenzeller Bahnen run?

Named lines include the Altstätten to Gais cogwheel railway, Rorschach to Heiden, Gais to Appenzell, and Rheineck to Walzenhausen, all fanning out from the St. Gallen area.

Is there a cogwheel train on the network?

Yes, the Altstätten to Gais line uses a rack-and-pinion cogwheel system for its steepest stretch, distinct from the operator's ordinary regional trains.

Do Swiss travel passes work on Appenzeller Bahnen?

Yes. The GA travelcard, Halbtax half-fare card, seven25 pass and route or module season passes are all accepted, alongside the FAIRTIQ swipe-to-travel app.

Is there a combined ticket for a Lake Constance day trip?

The Bodensee Ticket (Bahn, Bus, Ferry) covers train, bus and ferry travel across the Swiss, German and Austrian sides of Lake Constance on one ticket.

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