PubliCar: Frequently Asked Questions

What does a PubliCar journey cost? 

A normal public transport ticket at the national rate or using the local fare network (single tickets, multi-ple-trip tickets, 1-day travelpasses, multi-day travelpasses, travelcards) must be purchased for the jour-ney. Half-Fare travelcards, GA travelcards, junior and child co-travelcards are valid.

Additionally, a surcharge is applied for PubliCar. You can find more detailed information about the rates in the information for the relevant PubliCar area.

How can payments be made?

Public transport tickets for the zones/routes can be purchased via the usual sales channels (online or sales outlets). 

The PubliCar surcharge can be paid via the app using credit and prepaid cards (in the future also with debit cards).

Alternatively, payment of the public transport ticket and the PubliCar surcharge can also be made to the driver.

When will the PubliCar surcharge amount be charged to my credit card? 

• For a single ticket, the PubliCar surcharge amount will be charged to your credit card at the end of the journey. 
• When purchasing a multiple-trip ticket or a monthly travelcard for the PubliCar surcharge (service depends on the area), the amount will be charged to your credit card at the time of purchase. 
• The remaining credit on your multiple-trip ticket for the PubliCar surcharge will be shown in your account.  

Are ticket inspections carried out?

Ticket inspections may be carried out. If it is found that a passenger has not paid the PubliCar surcharge or for a public transport ticket, the person will be charged a fee in accordance with the directive “Travelling without a valid ticket” at www.ticketcontrol.ch. 

How can I find out the pick-up and arrival time?

The PubliCar app shows the pick-up and arrival times. When ordering, a time slot will be shown for the arrival time. This allows journeys with similar destinations to be combined. Small detours are possible as a result.

For pre-bookings, you will be notified of the expected arrival time of the PubliCar 30 minutes be-fore the earliest possible pick-up time at the agreed collection point. You can track where your vehicle is located using the map in the app. 

The pick-up time can also always be found under the tab “Booked journeys”.

If, in exceptional cases, the PubliCar happens to be running late, you will receive a push notification on your smartphone provided that push notifications have been activated in your settings. If you have made a reservation by telephone, you will be contacted by the driver in the event of a major incident.

Where can I see the pick-up point in the app?

The pick-up point is shown in your order and in the travel details.

Depending on the particular PubliCar area, you will be collected from your front door, another agreed boarding location or from a stop. 

In Yverdon, pick-ups and drop-offs are only possible at PostBus stops and at the hospital stop. General information about PubliCar Vaud

What do I need to show on boarding? 

The booking code provided in the app serves as your confirmation and must be given to the driver when you board. When ordering a PubliCar for another person, this person also needs to be able to give the driver the booking code.

What happens if I am running late? 

The vehicle cannot wait for an individual user beyond the agreed pick-up time.

If you have saved your phone number in the app or have provided it when making an order by phone, the driver can contact you if clarification is needed. 

What happens if the PubliCar is running late?

You will be notified of the expected pick-up time shortly before the journey. The time may differ by a few minutes due to the current traffic situation. In unforeseen situations, the driver will contact you. 

If you are travelling to an appointment or are changing to another means of transport, please select the arrival time when booking.
 

The General Terms and Conditions of PubliCar apply. 

General information about PubliCar Vaud

Ordering

Fare

Service and contact centers

__________________________________________

Book with ease using the smartphone app

With PubliCar, it couldn’t be simpler : book your next trip with the new PubliCar app:

A) Download the PubliCar App from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS) or call the reservation number 0800 60 30 60.
B) Book your journey: enter and confirm the pick-up and drop-off location and your chosen time 
C) Make a cashless payment of the surcharge via the app 
D) Board the vehicle and enjoy the journey

The benefits of the PubliCar app

• Choice available between departure time and arrival time. If you have a train connection or a scheduled appointment, please select the arrival time*
• Make bookings for several people
• Share bookings on WhatsApp and via other social media
• Surcharges can be paid by credit card
• Your current position and the vehicle’s current position are both shown on the map
• You can combine trips that have similar destinations
• Push notifications are sent in the event of delays if these are activated in the settings
• A booking code is issued for each order. This code must be presented to the driver when boarding.
• An overview of previous bookings. The departure and arrival locations can be copied into a new booking

* Bookings may be made at short notice up to 15 to 30 minutes before departure, though it depends on the stops and how full the bus is. If you have a fixed appointment or demand is high, we recommend that you make your booking in advance. The PubliCar app allows you to make bookings up to 30 days before your trip.

Night service timetable and regions covered

The night zone allows you to travel within a blue and green zone, but you cannot travel from a blue zone to another blue zone. Railway journeys are also not included (Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher Railway; Swiss Federal Railways; Travys) The app suggests* a possible journey and times based on your request, provided it can be met by the zones covered and timetable available.

*The area covered is highlighted in the PubliCar app.

Friday and Saturday 22.00–01.00 h

Horaires de jour (zones 4 et 9 uniquement) avec service de porte à porte

Zone: 4 – Thierrens

Zone: 9 – Orbe

Bookings over the phone

Alternatively, we still accept bookings over the phone on 0800 60 30 60 (free of charge) seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Arrange your trip with the operator once you have given them your first name and surname, the date of travel, starting point (PubliCar stop), your destination (PubliCar stop), your preferred arrival time and the number of people travelling.
• PubliCar will confirm your booking and pick you up at the time and place agreed. 
• The passenger must be at the location agreed five minutes before departure. 

You can make bookings and cancel bookings up to one hour beforehand over the phone (during head office opening hours).
For departures before 9 a.m., you can make bookings over the phone up to 60 minutes before the head office closes the day before at the latest. 
PostBus reserves the right to put people travelling on the same route together.
 

Price

The same pricing conditions for timetabled services apply here*, except a pick-up surcharge of CHF 5.00 will apply per passenger and per journey, unless there is a promotion.

A card for 6 rides is available from the drivers for CHF 30.00.

*List of public and cantonal holidays: 
25 and 26 December 2020, 1 and 2 January 2021, 2 April 2021, 5 April 2021, 13 May 2021, 24 May 2021, 1 August 2021, 20 September 2021.

Important information

• If you book a trip using the app, you can cancel it 30 minutes before pick-up at the latest if you no longer require it.
• If the number of travellers changes, the journey must be cancelled and a new booking made.
• PubliCar vehicles have free WiFi access.

Service and contact centers

Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question: 

PostBus Ltd
Western Switzerland sector
Avenue de la Gare 6
P.O. Box 906
1401 Yverdon-les-Bains

Telephone
0848 40 20 40 (national rate)
Monday–Friday: 09.00 – 12.00 h / 14.00 – 17.00 h

E-mail
ouest@postbus.ch