GC fans pulled the emergency brake four times on IC 81 between Zürich and Bern.
Flares and smoking triggered a fire alarm, disabling air conditioning on a hot Saturday.
Fans distributed flyers demanding more dedicated extra trains to separate fans and passengers.
Authorities stationed police and an ambulance at Bern station to handle potential heat-related health issues.
On Saturday, supporters of Grasshopper Club Zürich traveling to an away match in Lausanne disrupted the IC 81 service between Zürich and Bern by pulling the emergency brake four times. The group, belonging to the "Sektor IV" fan organisation, also triggered a fire alarm by lighting smoke flares and smoking inside the carriage. The alarm caused the air conditioning to fail, worsening conditions on a hot day.
Passengers received flyers explaining the protest against Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) systematically cutting dedicated "extra trains" that once separated football fans from other travellers. The flyer stated:
“For years, extra trains have proven their worth. They allow football fans to be separated from uninvolved passengers. That leads to fewer conflicts and a quieter journey for everyone.”
One passenger told Blick she was stuck for 20 minutes before the Grauholz tunnel, describing the journey as "exhausting". "I have no idea when we'll continue," she said, with groans audible from other travellers. SBB confirmed the incident and rerouted trains via Langenthal and Burgdorf, causing delays and cancellations. At Bern station, police were stationed and an ambulance was on standby for heat-affected passengers. Authorities reported only verbal altercations.
The new Super League season has not yet started; the fixture was a pre-season contest. The action highlights simmering tensions over football security logistics, as SBB says vandalism and costs make extra fan trains unsustainable. The fans' demonstration, while disruptive, remained peaceful aside from the brake pulls and smoke alarm.
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Fans of Grasshopper Club Zürich pulled the emergency brake four times and set off a smoke alarm aboard an Intercity train on Saturday, protesting the Swiss Federal Railways' reduction of dedicated fan trains. The action halted the IC 81 between Zürich and Bern, disabled air conditioning, and required police and ambulance presence at Bern station.
AI text based on reports by SWI swissinfo.ch, Blick.ch and watson.ch/. Published .