In the summer session from 30 May to 16 June 2023, a number of industry-relevant agenda items are on the agenda. Here is a brief overview with our critical appraisal.
This is what it’s all about:
- More financial resources for the rolling road (Rola).
- Yes to simplified approval of rolling stock for international rail traffic
- Yes to modernisation and expansion of the Swiss national road network
- Yes to the agglomeration transport programme – in step with the national roads
Accompanied combined transport (Rolling Road, Rola)
After the National Council, the Council of States is now dealing with the Federal Council’s dispatch of 30 September 2022 on the amendment of the Freight Shift Act and on a federal decree on a payment framework for the promotion of accompanied combined transport (Federal Council business 22.064). Our assessment: There is a lack of technology-neutral promotion of transport, especially also in selected regions with volume potential. Quality control should also be extended to conventional transport. The extension of the RoMo until 2026 in accordance with the BR proposal is undisputed and expedient.
23.024 Railways Act. Amendment (implementation of the technical pillar of the 4th EU railway package)
The Federal Council aims to strengthen cross-border rail transport and plans to simplify the approval of rolling stock for international journeys. An important step in this direction is the introduction of uniform European approval procedures for new rolling stock. Following a positive response in the consultation process, the Federal Council decided in its meeting on 22 February 2023 to amend the Railway Act to create the necessary basis for this. The VAP supports the draft amendment (see blog article: Revision of the Railways Act secures access to the EU rail network), as it enables further steps to be taken to harmonise regulations in the area of rail operations and facilitates the incorporation of this package into the overland transport agreement.
23.032 National Roads Payment Framework 2024–2027, 2023 Expansion Plan for National Roads, Commitment Credit and Amendment to the Federal Decree on the National Roads Network
The Federal Council plans to modernise and expand the Swiss national roads network with a budget of around CHF 12 billion. The expansion is intended to relieve traffic congestion and improve road safety. About 8 billion francs are earmarked for operation and maintenance, while 4 billion francs are to be allocated to targeted expansion projects. These investments are important because the national roads account for a high proportion of the traffic volume. The VAP Association of Shippers supports the bill and emphasises the importance of a sustainable transport infrastructure for multimodality and modal shift. A rejection would mean a relapse into playing off road against rail in past times.
23.033 Federal Decree on the Commitment Credits from 2024 for Contributions to Measures under the Agglomeration Transport Programme
The VAP Association of the Freight Transport Industry supports the federal decree on commitment credits within the framework of the agglomeration transport programme. With a total sum of around 1.5 billion Swiss francs, transport infrastructure projects in Swiss conurbations will be supported in order to create a more efficient and sustainable transport system. These measures contribute to traffic calming, increased safety and improved quality of life in urban centres and at the same time increase their attractiveness as business locations.
However, the VAP Association of Shippers emphasises the need for the bill to enter into force in parallel with the planned expansion of the national road network, as proposed by the Wasserfallen minority. Investment in the national roads is crucial to calm traffic in the centres while providing sufficient capacity in the periphery. In view of this, we recommend that the bill be adopted.
