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The freight traffic through the Alps and the shift policy were shaped in the first half of 2023 by the difficult economic situation in Europe. Truck trips decreased by 13,000 to 463,000. In rail freight transport, the transport volume fell even more sharply. The rail share was 72.7 percent – 0.9 percentage points lower than in the first half of 2022.
(Bern) In the first half of 2023, a total of 19.1 million tons of goods were transported by road and rail through the Swiss Alps – about one million tons less than in the first semester of 2022. The transport volume on the road decreased by 100,000 tons (-2.7 percent). A total of 463,000 truck trips were counted through the Alps, 13,000 fewer than the previous year. The freight transport by rail saw a more pronounced decline: A total of 13.9 million tons were transported over the Alps by train; this corresponds to a decrease of 6 percent. The rail share of total alpine-crossing freight traffic fell by 0.9 to 72.7 percent. This is shown in the semester report on alpine-crossing freight traffic published by the Federal Office of Transport (BAV) on October 19, 2023.
Decreasing Demand in Alpine-Crossing Freight Traffic
The decline is primarily attributed to the economic development in Europe. Due to lower production, particularly in the steel, chemical, and automotive industries, the demand for transport services in alpine-crossing freight traffic decreased. The fact that the decline on the road was less pronounced may be related to the stabilizing effect of domestic freight traffic, while the development in Europe directly impacted rail transport. Additionally, the continued insufficient reliability of the railways in transit traffic may have had negative effects. Only about 50 percent of all freight trains reached their destination on time.
New Challenges in the Coming Year
Next year, the North-South rail traffic will also face challenging times: Numerous construction sites on the North-South corridor in 2024 will lead to significant restrictions (see fact sheet).
Photo: © Loginfo24
