Europe - OT (a bit...) - Switzerland and Schengen

So myself and Mrs SteelCityBoy have just returned from a very pleasant holiday to France, during which we made a side trip to visit relatives in Switzerland. I was of the impression that since Switzerland had signed up to - and implemented - the Schengen Agreement there would be pretty much zero border control travelling between France and Switzerland. I also gather though that since Switzerland is not an EU member state the authorities are entitled to undertake customs checks (ie on goods etc) but that Schengen should effectively abolish systematic immigration checks.

So when we arrived by rail at Geneva station, although there were some Border Guards about they just waved us through with barely a second glance. However, the experience on our return journey (Bern-Paris) was quite different. Near the border, some Border Guards got on and proceeded on a detailed examination of passports for entire train. My own passport, which I have used to travel to a number of countries over the 6 years I've had it (USA, Canada, Australia, numerous EU countries) without any problem was submitted to a searching examination with a flashlight and magnifying glass and all the pages looked through in detail. One passenger was taken out into the vestibule for further interview and examination/baggage search. I asked the conductor after they'd got off and he said that in spite of Schengen identity checks were still allowed and, as we've already seen, the Swiss are still entitled to do customs checks. But this seemed to me to all appearences to be an immigration examination in all but name...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitter or anything because my passport got the grade-A check. After all, my wife and I were allowed to pass and I've had a couple of secondaries in Canada and they've always let me through. I just was not expecting this to happen and was wondering if anyone else had any comments/similar experiences? It just didn't seem in line with what one expects from Schengen - although maybe I was just there on a bad day?

welcome to Flyertalk, SteelCityBoy :)

actually, what you experienced was a random border check. it happens at all inner-schengen borders. (I live 3km from Germany, I know what I am talking about ;) ... )

A country is permitted by the article 2.2 of the agreement to reinstate border controls for a short period if it is deemed in the interest of national security. This occurred in Germany during the World Football Championship.

Before Schengen, a criminal with police in hot pursuit would be safe once they managed to cross the border, but under the agreements of the Schengen Agreement police from one nation can cross national borders to chase their target for up to 30km. The officers have to wear their uniforms, their vehicles have to be marked as police vehicles and they may only use their weapons for self-defense. In trains here in the area we always have french and german, sometimes swiss police doing random checks. not a big deal ... but you always have to hold a valid travel document for traveling through the Schengen area to be presented in case of these random selection immigration police controls.

btw: not OT at all ... this is the right place for your question.

welcome to Flyertalk, SteelCityBoy :)
... but you always have to hold a valid travel document for traveling through the Schengen area to be presented in case of these random selection immigration police controls.
This is a good reminder that you do need to carry your passport (or alternatively, in the case of EU/EEA citizens, a national identity card) when travelling in the Schengen area — and, if in a country where people are required to be able to present valid ID at all times, one must similarly carry a passport (etc) even if one is going nowhere near a country border.

This occurred in Germany during the World Football Championship.... and Switzerland during Euro 2008. ;)