Swiss rail stations closing ticket windows

As the world becomes more and more cashless and automated, you can add Swiss rail tickets to the list of things it's hard to buy over the counter.

Citing lack of demand, the Swiss rail operator SBB is closing ticket offices at a number of stations in Zurich, Zug and Ticino cantons, and is eying more to be shut as time goes on, perhaps eventually reaching all but the largest stations.

SBB says that approximately 95 percent of its ticket sales are now either made at automated machines or online, and increased use of navigation apps, including those offered by rail carriers, has cut into the need for station personnel to answer questions about where to go and how.