Lausanne, Switzerland and Thonon-les-bains, France (GenevaLunch) – Lausanne-Thonon has just become an easier commute, with the CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman) starting regular Navibus service between the two, 15 December 2008.

The company is putting 18-24 new commuter boats on the lake a day, with the number depending on the season. The journey takes 27 minutes, a considerable drop from the car journey of nearly 1.5 hours. Day tickets are CHF 12.70 / € 8.50. The CGN points out that taking the car (roundtrip) is nine times as costly. Special monthly and annual reducations are available and tickets for the new boats are already on sale. They can be purchased on the boats as well as at the docks.

The CGN has been operating its Navibus service since April 2007, when service between Nyon, Switzerland and Chens in France began. Commuter traffic on the route has grown from 8,800 to 20,100 a year (2008). The boats, which take up to 120 passengers, are part of the company’s efforts to provide more commuter service rarther than just the large lake cruise boats for which it is known.

The CGN says that it needs 13 passengers per boat to emit less CO2 than the same number of cars.

Related story: Catherine Nelson-Pollard takes the Navibus from Nyon, “a cool commute,” September 2007