One day to discover 4 cities in Switzerland and enjoy beautiful scenery from the train. Sounds like a dream right? What if I told you that ESN Switzerland’s biggest national event gives you exactly that and more? Sightseeing, the Swiss countryside, amazing company, Erasmus students, ESNers from Switzerland and abroad, and crazy challenges… The Swiss Train Rally has it all. But, what’s the concept exactly?
Augustin Tinon, Head of the Organising Committee (OC) and member of ESN Geneva, explained:
For the 2024 edition, which took place on the 2nd of November, 49 teams departed from 11 different points. With a total of more than 700 participants*, the teams collectively visited 50 of Switzerland’s cities, towns and ‘picturesque villages’, according to the data reviewed by the Head of the OC. The event is no doubt one of the largest of ESN Switzerland, bringing together the ESN community in a unique way across the four language regions. This time, the fourth and final city, where all the teams meet up to celebrate the end of the event, was none other than Switzerland’s federal capital: Bern.
Cléa is one of the participants who left from Geneva with her team in the early hours of the morning. She saw the event as an ‘opportunity to discover small cities in Switzerland and meet new students from all over the country’. The day allowed for time to complete the required challenges, post them on the team’s Instagram page and visit the different towns. All this despite an intense itinerary for the team from Geneva to Fribourg, Sarnen, Frauenfeld and Bern before heading back to Geneva on the last train. For Cléa, the event was ‘awesome’, the ‘organisation was perfect’ and the challenges ‘very fun’.
This event, of course, could not be possible without the 128 ESN volunteers* making it happen. From coordinating the sections, the itineraries, the teams, the challenges and the party, all roles of the Organisation Committee are crucial. Another key force of the organisation are the local coordinators. These volunteers coordinate the participation of their sections in the event with ESN Switzerland and asign the team leaders.
Leonie, Local Coordinator of ESN Chur, co-led a team of 13 exchange students. She was very excited to participate for the first time and to take her section with her. A rare occurrence for ESN Chur that doesn’t usually reach the minimum of 10 participants required to partake in the event. First from Chur, to Bellinzona, Luzern her team met up with a team from ESN Lugano in Luzern, a highlight of the trip: ‘[it was] nice to see there was this space for people to interact’. The team continued to Biel before heading to Bern where they watched a lightshow on the Bundeshaus, home to the Swiss parliament, joined by ESN Zurich and Winterthur.
Hamza, local coordinator for ESN Basel, joined the Swiss Train Rally for the third time, emphasising the fun of the different challenges. With a 7am start, his team journeyed from Basel, to St Gallen, Schafhaussen before going to Bern. A much anticipated day, he emphasised that it allowed him to see a lot more of Switzerland and meet new people whilst making cherishable memories.
For the OC and Local Coordinators, the Swiss Train Rally is an event unlike any other where the bond between ESN volunteers and exchange students across the entire country is strengthened through the multiple train journeys, challenges and the end-of-day debrief on the way back home.
When asked if they would recommend the event, all were enthusiastic:
Hamza (Local Coordinator from ESN Basel) also highlighted the attractivity of the event in a country known for its steep prices:
Indeed, for only 15 CHF per person this event is definitely not to miss if you’re an exchange student in Switzerland, or want to join an ESN Switzerland event as an ESN volunteer!
*according to the data collected by the Swiss Train Rally Organisation Committee (Autumn 2024)
