The Swiss Federal Council is asking for 188,8 million euros (185 million francs) for investments in private rail freight facilities, such as terminals and sidings, between 2025 and 2028. Applicants would have to commit to finance at least 40 per cent of the project they want to subsidise with these funds.

The money would come from “earmarked mineral oil tax funds and other earmarked funds”, the Swiss Council suggested. It is now up to the Swiss Parliament to make a decision. The main objective of this fund is to create more combined transport connections and terminals to maintain the single wagonload market competitive.

For the 2016-2020 period, the Swiss Parliament approved a fund for 255,2 million euros (250 million francs) while for the 2021-2024 period, the amount was 306,2 million euros (300 million francs). The Council also said that the existing framework would be extended by one year to be used to finance projects that “were planned at the time of its definition but have been delayed”.

Infrastructure budget grows

The request for public investment in private rail freight terminals and sidings was not the only news from the Swiss Council. They also announced funds for 16,7 billion euros (16,4 billion francs) for the use and renewal of the existing infrastructure between 2025 and 2028. This is 2 billion more than the money allocated between 2021 and 2024. One of the causes behind this request is to have more resources to compensate for the higher costs.

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