Some SBB InterCity trains have a carriage built specifically for kids: a small slide, a play corner, and enough open floor space that a toddler can actually move around instead of being strapped into a seat for the whole ride. It’s called the Ticki Park coach, and we found our first one on an IC train not long after we started exploring by train ourselves. It’s worth knowing how to find one before you’re standing on a platform with three restless kids and a train pulling in.
How to Recognize the Family Coach
Figure: The play area in use, which is really the point of finding this carriage in the first place.
Not every carriage looks the same from the platform, so check for these signs before boarding:
- A bear illustration (the “Ticki Bear”) on the exterior
- Family or kid icons on the carriage body
- Cartoon illustrations painted on the outside
- It’s part of the second-class section of the train
Where It’s Located on the Train
On the double-decker InterCity trains that carry one, mainly the IC2000 and IC2020 sets, the family coach usually sits at one end of the train, directly above the bicycle storage area. A typical car order looks like this:
- Locomotive
- 1st Class
- Restaurant car (if included)
- 2nd Class
- 2nd Class
- Bicycle Coach
- Ticki Park Family Coach
Knowing this ahead of time helps, since the family coach is usually toward one end of a long platform rather than in the middle where most passengers tend to board.
What’s Inside
Figure: The mini playground corner, enough space for younger kids to move around rather than stay seated.
The upper level of the coach is where the play area sits. It typically includes a small slide and an open play corner, small by playground standards but a real difference on a longer ride.
Figure: The onboard slide, the main draw for younger kids on longer InterCity rides.
Which Trains Actually Have It
Not every train on the network carries a Ticki Park coach, so it’s worth checking before you count on one being there.
| Train Type | Ticki Park? |
|---|---|
| Certain InterCity (IC) | Yes |
| InterRegio (IR) | Generally no |
| Regional Train | No |
| S-Bahn | No |
Access and Booking
No reservation is needed to use the family coach, and it’s accessible with a standard second-class Swiss Travel Pass. There’s no upgrade or supplement required, it’s simply a second-class carriage with a play area built in rather than a separate paid product.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming every InterCity train has one. Check the train type first, since InterRegio and regional services generally don’t carry it.
- Boarding at the wrong end of a long platform and having to walk the length of the train to reach it.
- Not checking the exterior markings before boarding, and ending up in a standard second-class carriage instead.
