Experiences of European Cross Border Travel

[swt class 450]

Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/luxembourg.176497/

Basel is certainly an interesting one. It is basically a city in three countries (France and Germany and Switzerland) and the suburban trains and city trams and local buses all operate in all three countries. Bratislava is another similar example to Basel and Salzburg (there are probably others as well). With the Schengen Area you barely even notice when you cross a border in Europe these days.

 

[paddington]

With the Schengen Area you barely even notice when you cross a border in Europe these days.

True for most places but every time I enter Switzerland by train or road there has been a policeman wanting to check passports - I would have thought they should be more interested in luggage since CH is in Schengen but not the EU. Exception was the line between Bülach and Schaffhausen which crosses the German border several times where checking is completely impractical...

I am interested in how they managed to patrol borders such as these before Schengen (especially in the rural areas where all sorts of small roads go across)

A Scandinavian friend says that Sweden has increased frequency of ID checks on the train from CPH to Malmö again

 

[radamfi]

I am interested in how they managed to patrol borders such as these before Schengen (especially in the rural areas where all sorts of small roads go across)

About 15 years ago, before CH joined Schengen, we did a road trip crossing the Swiss border several times and only the busy crossings were staffed. Crossings at minor road crossings were unstaffed and you didn't get checked.

 

[43096]

True for most places but every time I enter Switzerland by train or road there has been a policeman wanting to check passports - I would have thought they should be more interested in luggage since CH is in Schengen but not the EU. Exception was the line between Bülach and Schaffhausen which crosses the German border several times where checking is completely impractical...

Odd. The only place I have seen Swiss border checks was at Chiasso for trains coming from Italy. The last time I went through Basel, the border post was all boarded up and I simply walked from the SNCF to the SBB side with no sign of any staff. Likewise I have never seen any sign of border checks at Buchs when going into Austria.

 

[rg177]

I've been taken in for a passport check at Basel SNCF back in April 2018 and last week there were officers watching people as they alighted from the ex Mulhouse stopper.

 

[Alfonso]

Quote :"I am interested in how they managed to patrol borders such as these before Schengen (especially in the rural areas where all sorts of small roads go across)"

A long time ago, walking on a mountain path into Switzerland, a customs officer came out of the most from nowhere and asked if we had any butter amongst other things

 

[Mag_seven]

A long time ago, walking on a mountain path into Switzerland, a customs officer came out of the most from nowhere and asked if we had any butter amongst other things

Maybe they had ran out.

 

[etr221]

Something to remember is that - particularly along the Swiss-German border - railways actually belong to the wrong country's system, for historic or other reasons. In particular Basel Badischer Bhf. is a DB station (although in Switzerland), along with the lines from it to the border.

 

[43096]

I've been taken in for a passport check at Basel SNCF back in April 2018 and last week there were officers watching people as they alighted from the ex Mulhouse stopper.

The last visit I had was also in April 2018. No sign of anyone checking passports. Rather glad there wasn't, always good to get out of France as quickly as possibly and into the splendour that is Switzerland!

 

[Mag_seven]

I've been taken in for a passport check at Basel SNCF back in April 2018 and last week there were officers watching people as they alighted from the ex Mulhouse stopper.

It is a bit of a myth that there are no checks. Often you will see border police walk through a train as it crosses a border despite Schengen - I have witnessed such patrols on trains going from Italy into Switzerland and going from the Czech Republic into Germany. I also saw someone being stopped and searched at the Swiss/France border in Basel.

 

[tasky]

The worst experience I had crossing an internal Schengen border was going on the OeBB sleeper from Salzburg to Rome. Somewhere in the middle of the night (I believe it was Austria but I honestly couldn't tell) police came into our couchette and angrily shone torches in everyone's face and asked everyone's nationality. When we said British they didn't actually check anyone's passports after taking a look at us – it was fairly obvious they were racial profiling. It still ruined my night's sleep, though.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Plenty of armed French police checking passports recently on the Portbou-Cerbere border between Spain and France (for the handful of passengers on the local).
Borders seem to be getting more tricky as time passes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Plenty of armed French police checking passports recently on the Portbou-Cerbere border between Spain and France (for the handful of passengers on the local).
Borders seem to be getting more tricky as time passes.

TBH, with what's going on in mainland Europe I would be surprised if Schengen (as distinct from the wider EU) didn't implode soon.

 

[Amateurish]

We had border police board the train recently when travelling on the little used line from Besancon to Le Locle. They did passport checks and removed one man from the train.

 

[Groningen]

As long you do not leave the station in Basel BF and Schaffhausen there is no control, but often border patrol joins the train from the north in Germany at Freiburg im Breisgau which is the last stop for IC/ICE before arriving in Basel.

 

[route101]

Took Train from CPH to Malmo and there was a passport check on the first station on Swedish Side . I believe this is for immigrants . Just a cursory look . I doubt they even have a stamper to stamp passports . There was customs officers too .

I took ferry back to Denmark to helsinsgor , no checks. Not sure if there is checks Sweden bound on ferry .

EC train from Bratislava to Vienna had a check on it i recall and a sleeper from Zagreb to Munich had a check at rosenberg for Germany , again for migrants and they just looked in our compartment.

 

[DavidGrain]

A year ago I had my passport checked on the train from Copenhagen Airport to Malmö. This was the first time ever. I had travelled a few months earlier and we were warned that our passports/ID would be checked but that did not happen.

A couple of years ago I was in Basel and just out of railway interest I wondered onto the Badischer Bahnhof. I was a little concerned because when I left the station the Swiss customs had opened their office and where checking bags. I just walked past and was not stopped. Outside the station there was a German and a Swiss police car parked side by side.

 

[route101]

A year ago I had my passport checked on the train from Copenhagen Airport to Malmö. This was the first time ever. I had travelled a few months earlier and we were warned that our passports/ID would be checked but that did not happen.

A couple of years ago I was in Basel and just out of railway interest I wondered onto the Badischer Bahnhof. I was a little concerned because when I left the station the Swiss customs had opened their office and where checking bags. I just walked past and was not stopped. Outside the station there was a German and a Swiss police car parked side by side.

I wonder as UK citizen you forgot your passport if you were going to Malmo for the day , do they send you back?

 

[DavidGrain]

I wonder as UK citizen you forgot your passport if you were going to Malmo for the day , do they send you back?

I had my passport as I had just landed at Copenhagen Airport. We British were usually inclined not to carry our passports when abroad but in recent years I have started carrying my passport at all times when abroad. In the same way when in the UK I now always carry my bus pass with my address in the wallet even when not using a bus.

 

[newmilton]

I came back from Turin in November (not the first time). No formal checks, but half-a-dozen armed French police walked slowly and purposefully through the train between Bardonecchia and Modane. I have had a similar experience with Swiss police between Domodossola and Brig on the Simplon route. In the latter case I think they actually locked the carriage doors at each end as they came through.

 

[alex397]

In Bratislava there is the local city bus which goes to Hainburg in Austria, and apart from the signs changing language it is hard to tell you have crossed a border. It does seem odd to cross the former Iron Curtain with such ease.
You go through the now disused customs area (whatever you call it).

I have also travelled on the train between Munich and Salzburg, again its difficult to tell you have crossed a border. There were what I believe to be border police on the train, but they appeared to just be there to talk to a group of Africans who were on the train.

 

[Bungle965]

Plenty of armed French police checking passports recently on the Portbou-Cerbere border between Spain and France (for the handful of passengers on the local).
Borders seem to be getting more tricky as time passes.

Yes, last summer police boarded my TGV from Toulouse at Perpignan and checked everyone's passport. Guy took a rather long look at mine presumably looking for any stamps which would raise questions (I had none).
Sam

 

[swt class 450]

Very interesting to hear of others experiences. I had absolutely no idea that passport checks happened within the Schengen area. I have done lots of travelling all over the Schengen area (a few times a year i go on a trip around Europe) and i have never been stopped for a passport check. Perhaps i have just been very lucky.

So out of interest what would happen if you were stopped and had no passport and no form of ID on you at all? Can you tell them your details and they can look you up on their devices?

I have some family who live in France very close to Calais (they are originally British but moved there many years ago) and normally when i go to Mainland Europe i will visit them quickly and normally leave my passport there before crossing borders and travelling all around Mainland Europe as i don't like carrying important documents around with me. On some other occasions i will simply leave my passport in my hotel while i travel around and cross borders.

So i have done a large amount of travelling all around Europe without any passport or ID. I thought this was pretty normal. I have been as far as France to Estonia and back again without a passport or ID.

I would be interested to know what the official policy is and what happens if someone is stopped but has no passport and no ID on them. This would be useful to know for my future travels.

 

[Alfonso]

Very interesting to hear of others experiences. I had absolutely no idea that passport checks happened within the Schengen area. I have done lots of travelling all over the Schengen area (a few times a year i go on a trip around Europe) and i have never been stopped for a passport check. Perhaps i have just been very lucky.

So out of interest what would happen if you were stopped and had no passport and no form of ID on you at all? Can you tell them your details and they can look you up on their devices?

I have some family who live in France very close to Calais (they are originally British but moved there many years ago) and normally when i go to Mainland Europe i will visit them quickly and normally leave my passport there before crossing borders and travelling all around Mainland Europe as i don't like carrying important documents around with me. On some other occasions i will simply leave my passport in my hotel while i travel around and cross borders.

So i have done a large amount of travelling all around Europe without any passport or ID. I thought this was pretty normal. I have been as far as France to Estonia and back again without a passport or ID.

I would be interested to know what the official policy is and what happens if someone is stopped but has no passport and no ID on them. This would be useful to know for my future travels.

In many countries it's obligatory to carry ID at all times. It's sensible to carry at least a photocopy of your passport. It's not about borders but security in general. Police will oftenoescort you back to your hotel if they need to see it. This could be a problem if your passport is in Calais and you are in Brussels,Munich, wherever.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Very interesting to hear of others experiences. I had absolutely no idea that passport checks happened within the Schengen area. I have done lots of travelling all over the Schengen area (a few times a year i go on a trip around Europe) and i have never been stopped for a passport check. Perhaps i have just been very lucky.

So out of interest what would happen if you were stopped and had no passport and no form of ID on you at all? Can you tell them your details and they can look you up on their devices?

I have some family who live in France very close to Calais (they are originally British but moved there many years ago) and normally when i go to Mainland Europe i will visit them quickly and normally leave my passport there before crossing borders and travelling all around Mainland Europe as i don't like carrying important documents around with me. On some other occasions i will simply leave my passport in my hotel while i travel around and cross borders.

So i have done a large amount of travelling all around Europe without any passport or ID. I thought this was pretty normal. I have been as far as France to Estonia and back again without a passport or ID.

I would be interested to know what the official policy is and what happens if someone is stopped but has no passport and no ID on them. This would be useful to know for my future travels.

Not sure exactly how this translates to what you do but...

When I last travelled to Munich we considered the train to Salzburg for the day (we didn't in the end), but the rules we found were that as our hotel was in Munich we could travel round germany with no passport no problem, but if you cross a border without one you can be arrested as it is against the law. So as a rule, whenever I cross a border or take a long distance train within Europe, I have my passport on me. I've never found anything to the contrary on the above.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not sure exactly how this translates to what you do but...

When I last travelled to Munich we considered the train to Salzburg for the day (we didn't in the end), but the rules we found were that as our hotel was in Munich we could travel round germany with no passport no problem, but if you cross a border without one you can be arrested as it is against the law. So as a rule, whenever I cross a border or take a long distance train within Europe, I have my passport on me. I've never found anything to the contrary on the above.

Yes, I was going to say that, I believe it's mandatory to carry a passport or EU ID card when crossing a Schengen border regardless of the countries' own policy.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Not rail related, but a friend (he's from Sheffield) moved house from Munich to Zurich and his removal van ws weighed at the Swiss border, he was charged for excess weight

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not rail related, but a friend (he's from Sheffield) moved house from Munich to Zurich and his removal van ws weighed at the Swiss border, he was charged for excess weight

Switzerland is not in the EU customs union (which is separate from Schengen) so this does not surprise me.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Switzerland is not in the EU customs union (which is separate from Schengen) so this does not surprise me.

BTW this was in 2010

 

[Bletchleyite]

BTW this was in 2010

It wasn't then either It had joined Schengen by 2010. But a lot of people forget that Schengen, the EU and the customs union are kind-of separate, and that there are countries that are in one but not the other, e.g.:

UK: EU (for now), customs union (for now), not Schengen
CH: not EU, not customs union, in Schengen
Norway: not EU, not Schengen, sort of in customs union I think (might be wrong)