section_path: Infrastructure/Transport/Railways
section_name: Railways
paragraph_text: Railways
  
  Basel was the first Swiss city with a railway station and it has long held an important place as a rail hub. Three main railway stations—those of the Swiss, French and German networks—lie within the city, although the Swiss (Basel SBB) and French (Bâle SNCF) stations are actually in the same complex, separated by customs and immigration facilities. The German Basel Badischer Bahnhof (abbreviated to Basel Bad Bf) is on the northern side of the city. Two other, smaller stations within the city limits are Basel Dreispitz and Basel St. Johann. All stations are connected to the local tram and bus network (BVB). Basel's regional rail services are supplied by the Basel S-Bahn, which links the city with destinations in Switzerland, France and Germany.
  
  Most long-distance trains call at Basel SBB station, such as EC, TGV, ICE, IC and IR services. The ICE also calls at Basel Bad Bf. The new high-speed ICE railway line from Karlsruhe to Basel was completed in 2008 while phase I of the TGV Rhine-Rhône line, opened in December 2011, has reduced travel time from Basel to Paris to about 3 hours.
  
  The largest goods railway complex of the country is located just outside the city, spanning the municipalities of Muttenz and Pratteln.