NStCM Train (Nyon–Saint-Cergue–La Cure)

A little train that climbs from the lake to the Jura

The NStCM, for Nyon–Saint-Cergue–La Cure, is a picturesque little regional train that links the shore of Lake Geneva, in Nyon, to the heights of the Jura. In a single climb, you go from the town and the lake to the forests and pastures of Saint-Cergue and La Cure, right next to the French border. Let's be honest: it is not an attraction, but a real train ride, and that is exactly what makes it charming.

What your children will discover

For many children, taking this little train is a pleasure in itself. You watch the landscape change through the window: the lake moving away and shrinking, the vineyards, then the forest closing in and the air growing cooler as you climb. You feel the train straining on the slope, you look out for the stations, you spot the first firs of the Jura.

It is also a geography lesson without seeming like one: in about thirty minutes, you go from the lakeside to the mountains.

What you do there and the atmosphere on site

The atmosphere is that of a quiet regional train: you settle in, you look outside, you chat. Above all it is a gateway to the activities of Saint-Cergue – walking trails in the warm season, sledging and snow in winter. Many families do the round trip just for the pleasure of the journey, or head up to spend the day there.

The NStCM is part of the regional transport network: the timetables are on the CFF. Check in advance to plan your outing and the return.

Before you go

• Recommended age: all ages, from babies to teenagers.
• Duration: about thirty minutes per trip to Saint-Cergue; plan a full day if you go up for a walk.
• Booking and price: paid, CFF / regional transport ticket; no booking needed in general.
• Stroller accessibility: accessible train, handy with a toddler.
• Transport: departure from Nyon station, connecting with the lakeside CFF trains.
• What to bring: warm clothes (it is cooler at altitude), especially in winter for sledging.
• Best season: all year round; in summer for the trails, in winter for the snow.

Parents' tips

• Present the outing for what it is: a train ride, not a theme park. Children take to it very well.
• Grab the window seats to enjoy the passing landscape.
• Plan an activity on arrival in Saint-Cergue: a trail in summer, sledging in winter.
• Check the return train timetable before you leave: the frequency is regional, not urban.
• Wrap the children up well: it is noticeably cooler up there than by the lake.

Useful information

• Address: Nyon station, 1260 Nyon (departure of the NStCM line).
• Hours: available on the CFF; regional line Nyon–Saint-Cergue–La Cure.
• Access: from the Nyon CFF station, connecting with the lakeside trains.

Why we recommend it

Because it is one of the prettiest ways to link the lake to the mountains, without a car and without effort. The journey is an experience in its own right for children, and it opens the door to the walks and sledging of Saint-Cergue. Simple, a real change of scenery, and 100% public transport.

In a nutshell

A picturesque little train that climbs from Nyon to the Jura. The ride itself is the attraction, and it is also the gateway to the trails and sledging of Saint-Cergue.