Swiss Federal Council Aims to Strengthen Rail Transport in Alpine Traffic

The shift of freight transport across the Alps from road to rail has made further progress in the last two years: The share of rail has risen to its highest level in 25 years, while truck journeys have decreased to around 900,000 per year. However, the target of shifting 650,000 journeys is still not being met. Therefore, the Federal Council aims to further strengthen this shift, as decided in its meeting on November 24, 2021, with the adoption of the shift report. For this purpose, it plans to further develop the performance-dependent heavy vehicle charge.

(Bern) The shift report 2021 shows that the instruments and measures of the shift policy are effective: The New Railway Alpine Transversal (NEAT), the performance-dependent heavy vehicle charge (LSVA), and the railway reform have significantly contributed to strengthening rail transport and reducing truck transport through the Alps. This development is further supported by the commissioning of the Ceneri Base Tunnel a year ago and the 4-meter corridor on the Gotthard base line: Individual operators have gained 25 percent new customers in large-profile transports in the first months of this year.

The target of shifting 650,000 journeys is still not being met. Therefore, the Federal Council has decided to develop additional measures with the adoption of the shift report.

Further Development of LSVA and Clarification Regarding Rolling Road

To strengthen the shift, the Federal Council wants to further develop the performance-dependent heavy vehicle charge. It also indicates how the Rolling Road will proceed.

• The LSVA has so far been oriented towards the EURO emission standards to reduce air pollutants. This has contributed to the continuous modernization of truck fleets. The Federal Council now aims for a gradual reorientation of the LSVA according to the CO2 emissions of the vehicles. This strengthens climate protection. The Federal Council also wants to clarify how long vehicles with alternative drives (electricity, hydrogen) will remain exempt from the LSVA. The transport industry needs planning security for the conversion of its vehicle fleets. The Federal Council has tasked the UVEK to present a consultation draft for the further development of the LSVA by mid-2023.
• The financial support for the Rolling Road (Rola), where entire trucks are transported by rail through Switzerland, runs until the end of 2023. The Federal Council proposes to continue it until 2028 with around 20 million annually. The existing rolling stock can be used without major investments until then, and the offerings in unaccompanied combined transport can be strengthened. The Rola is to be discontinued by the end of 2028.

With the next shift report, the Federal Council wants to analyze where there is unused shift potential along the North-South corridor. Initial investigations show that various regions still have potential for a shift. In this context, measures to strengthen domestic, import, and export rail freight transport are being examined, as also demanded in parliamentary initiatives.

The federal government is also committed to ensuring that sufficient diversion capacities are created at construction sites along the NEAT access routes and that these routes are aligned with contemporary train lengths and weights. This aims to better exploit the potential of the NEAT. Construction sites and insufficient international harmonization of routes currently hinder this.

Hazardous Goods Transport via the Simplon Pass Road

Following a parliamentary initiative, the Federal Council has called on the canton of Valais and the chemical industry based in Valais in the shift reports of 2017 and 2019 to reduce the risks of hazardous goods transport on the Simplon Pass Road within the framework of a self-commitment. The corresponding work has begun. The Federal Council will conduct a site assessment at the end of 2022 and decide on the further course of action.

Photo: © Hupac