New plan to save freight transport on the rail

Thierry Burkart and Martin Candinas present a project on how to transport goods by train. Abroad is involved. The SVP has already announced resistance.

The “rolling country road” failed. From next year, no trucks and staff will be transported by train. Now federal parliamentarians present a plan on how freight traffic on the rail should be strengthened after this setback.

Council of States and FDP President Thierry Burkart and Middle National Councilor Martin Candinas demand in a motion: The subsidies that the federal government provided for the “Rolling Landstrasse” by 2028 are to be transferred to France. « The CHF 60 million can make a major contribution to making the railway tunnels in the voses usable for the unaccompanied combined traffic, » says Burkart.

In these transports, containers and trailers – i.e. the rear parts of the truck – are delivered to freight trains. The tunnels in France do not have the required height of four meters along the left side of the Rhine.

Huge hole in the French state budget

Burkart and Candinas point this: The railway alpine transverse Neat is intended as an important element for the fast goods transport on the rail from Rotterdam to Genoa. This works in Switzerland and south. The federal government has transferred Italy around CHF 100 million so that the country made its rail infrastructure suitable for freight transport. Now there are three junctions for the connection to Italy: Chiasso, Domodossola and Luino.

However, there is a misery in the north. A new railway line should have been completed between Basel and Karlsruhe by 2020. However, the German authorities explain that the work is not to be concluded before 2041.

On the German section, the trains are often on the move with a significant delay. Burkart and Candinas therefore do not put on the right, but on the left side of the Rhine: The railway line Basel-Metz-Antwerpen is to be expanded so that it becomes attractive for freight traffic.

France is not fundamentally against this project. But the question of affordability arises. The public debt of France has grown; Now expenses have to be shortened. Expanding the railway line through the Vosges for the transport of goods is not a priority for the French government.

Martin Candinas says: « If Switzerland transfers money abroad, it must have a benefit. » In this case, the advantage is evident: « Better transport capacities on the rail between Basel and Rotterdam prevent more trucks from running on Swiss streets. »

It is unusual for Candinas and Burkart to relax on a traffic question: Candinas is the President of Litra, the Association for Public Transport in Switzerland. Burkart is the president of the ASTAG Commercial Vehicle Association. « A functioning combined traffic also helps the domestic transport industry, which, especially on the Gotthard, increasingly difficult to defuse, » says Burkart.

The two receive support from the transport company Hupac, which relies on combined traffic. Administrative Council President Hans-Jörg Bertschi says: « Without a second supply from the north to Neat, it will no longer be possible to shift freight traffic to rail ». The relocation corresponds to a goal of Swiss transport policy.

Federal Councilor Rösti represents a different attitude than his party

Minister of Transport Albert Rösti (SVP) also generally likes the project. Department spokeswoman Franziska Ingold announced: “The need to expand in France is also undisputed for the traffic department. For example, Federal Councilor Rösti signed a corresponding declaration of intent in this spring with his French counterpart in Paris. » Which implementation measures are necessary in this regard is currently evaluated.

The question arises where the money for the plan should come from. Burkart and Candinas are now presenting a solution: the intended subsidies for the – failed – rolling country road to deflect for the expansion of a section of the railway in France.

Opposition announces the party of the Minister of Transport. SVP National Councilor Christian Imark says: «It is not our job to support the expansion of railway lines abroad. France should pay for it itself. The country can apply for payments from EU funds. »

Imark underlines that Switzerland largely finances the electrification of the railway line between Basel and Schaffhausen north of the Rhine. There are many rail projects in Switzerland that were waiting for a realization. The priority should be given to them.

Thierry Burkart thinks this is too short. “Payment to France makes a contribution to ensuring that traffic in Switzerland flows instead of herself. Otherwise the Neat is a cathedral in the desert, »he says.