After the freight train accident in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) is promoting rail freight transport with gripping measures: The tunnel may only be used for goods trains. The compensation per train driven in unaccompanied combined transport (UCT) will soon be increased to up to CHF 1,100. We, as the association of the shipping industry, would like to express our sincere thanks for this. By the way: our vote also applies to foreign shippers.
This is what it’s all about:
- Gotthard base tunnel only open for freight railways
- Higher compensation for transalpine UCT
- The VAP says thank you
Gotthard Base Tunnel open for freight trains only
Since the reopening of the east tunnel of the Gotthard base tunnel, it has been available exclusively for freight traffic. Around 100 train paths are possible every day. A further 30 trains per day run through the mountain section. This means that transalpine rail freight traffic has a total of 130 train paths at its disposal every day. By comparison: in 2022, an average of 120 trains crossed the base tunnel every day.
Thanks to this measure, the freight railways can handle rail freight traffic practically without restrictions. Admittedly, the routing over the mountain route is associated with considerable additional expense. But it mainly affects domestic traffic that is not dependent on the 4‑metre corridor.
Higher compensation for transalpine UCT
The FOT is committed to transalpine rail freight traffic and in particular transit traffic (see “The FOT strengthens rail freight traffic through the Alps”). The compensation per train travelled in UCT will be increased by CHF 200 to up to CHF 1,100 in the coming weeks. The FOT also does not want to reduce the compensation per consignment for 2024, but will introduce a symbolic reduction from CHF 1 to CHF 57 per consignment. In this way, the FOT is supporting transalpine UCT in a very pragmatic way. Against the background of the difficult construction site situation on the access routes and the tense economic situation, the FOT is refraining from continuing the previous reduction path for compensation in UCT.
The VAP expresses its thanks
The FOT deserves a big thank you for this pragmatic support. It strengthens the efforts of the entire industry to make the capacity restrictions on both the Gotthard and Lötschberg axes as bearable as possible in a targeted manner and by joining forces. We see it as a sign of a joint shift policy in transit traffic.