Our commitment

Train travel, sustainability certifications and our projects

A red train runs alongside the lake. A red train runs alongside the lake.

For more than 50 years, railtour has promoted train travel across Europe and supported the development of international rail tourism.

Alongside our travel offers, we continually develop our products, processes and communication activities and implement environmental management measures within our business. Our focus includes promoting train journeys, highlighting accommodation with recognised sustainability certifications and implementing environmental management measures within our business. We also support urban greening projects in Switzerland through re:plant cities!, an initiative that removes sealed surfaces and creates space for nature in cities.


Discover our projects, activities and commitments.

Train travelling through green countryside.

Our commitment at a glance

Travel is our passion. We focus on practical measures and recognised standards throughout our offers and operations.

  • More than 50 years of promoting train travel in Europe
  • Accommodations clearly identified with recognised sustainability certifications
  • ISO 14001-certified environmental management system
  • Participation with «Swisstainable» at Level III – Leading
  • Support for re:plant cities! and the depaving of urban surfaces in Switzerland
  • Awareness-raising activities for customers and employees
  • Continuous development of products, processes and environmental management measures

re:plant cities!

Since 2023, railtour has supported re:plant cities!, a project that helps unseal asphalt and concrete surfaces in Swiss cities. 

CHF 2 from every booking is allocated to the initiative, and customers can make an additional voluntary contribution. All funds are used directly to implement depaving projects.

What is depaving?
Sealed surfaces such as asphalt and concrete prevent rainwater from penetrating the ground. Depaving removes these impermeable layers and replaces them with natural, water-permeable surfaces. This allows rainwater to infiltrate the soil again and creates new space for plants and green areas.

Green plant breaks through asphalt

Depaving projects

Our re:plant cities! projects

The aim is to remove sealed surfaces in public spaces and transform them into green areas. These projects are developed and implemented together with local partners and communities, creating more space for vegetation and improving the urban environment.

One hand holding a green globe
2024: Schänzlihalde, Bern
In October 2024, the first re:plant cities! project was completed at Schänzlihalde in Bern. In collaboration with Swiss artist Duscha Padrutt, founder of entsiegeln.art, the Quartierverein Kursaal and gardener Andreas Augsburger, a small sealed area was transformed into a greener space.
 
Learn more
One hand holding a green globe
2025: Vernier

In November 2025, a concrete structure in the playground of Le Lignon School in Vernier was removed and replaced with a Provence Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum). The project was carried out in cooperation with the Municipality of Vernier and contributes to greener, more shaded outdoor spaces for the school.

One hand holding a green globe
2026: Marzili, Bern

In Bern's Marzili district, around 60 m² of asphalt were removed in November 2025 in cooperation with the City of Bern and local residents. The prepared area was then planted with a white willow and other trees in the spring of 2026.

One hand holding a green globe
2027: Your depaving project?
Further projects are planned for the future. Thank you for helping to make them possible through your booking.
 
Do you know of a site that could be depaved? We would be pleased to hear from you.
 
Contact us

Environmental management and sustainability certifications

Our environmental management system is regularly audited by independent external organisations. railtour is certified to ISO 14001, an internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems.

We also participate in the Swiss sustainability programme «Swisstainable» and have achieved Level III – Leading status. Participation in the programme commits us to the continuous development of our business activities and projects.
Learn more (in german)
Certificates on a green background

engage

certified accommodations

Look out for our «engage – certified accommodation» symbol in the Travelshop to identify accommodation with recognised sustainability certifications at a glance. We rely on established certification programmes that consider environmental, social and economic sustainability criteria and require regular independent audits. The relevant sustainability certification is listed in the accommodation description within the Travelshop. 

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Key in room lock

Responsibility

Concerns regarding risks or violations of human rights and environmental obligations

The complaints procedure under the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) enables reports of human rights or environmental risks and breaches of duty. Concerns relating to issues such as forced labour, child labour, discrimination, harmful pollution of soil, water or air, harmful noise emissions or excessive water consumption connected to DERTOUR Suisse AG can be submitted through the DERTOUR Suisse AG reporting channel as part of the REWE Group. Reports may be submitted by employees and external parties and can be made anonymously.

Customer complaints regarding the quality of products or services provided by DERTOUR Suisse AG are not covered by this procedure. For these matters, please contact customer service.

We encourage employees and external parties to report human rights or environmental risks and breaches of duty. Individuals who submit a report must not suffer any disadvantage as a result. The complaints procedure follows a defined process set out in the procedural rules. Impartiality, confidentiality and the independence of everyone involved in the process are guaranteed at all times.

Animal welfare

As part of DERTOUR Suisse AG, railtour follows the group's animal welfare policy, developed in 2019 in collaboration with animal welfare specialists. We support the implementation of this policy and its ongoing development.

The underlying criteria and standards are based on the guidelines of the British travel association ABTA and have been further developed for the DERTOUR Group together with Animondial.

Report a human rights or environmental violation