The motion 20.3222 «Rail freight transport and contribution to reducing CO2 emissions» submitted by VAP President and Councillor of States Josef Dittli was adopted by both Councils. The aim is to draw up a plan of measures that outlines how rail freight transport and multimodal logistics solutions can make a better contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. In the action plan, technical, operational, infrastructural, legal and financial options are to be identified, evaluated and put together into a promising package of measures. The cantons, railways, logistics service providers and shippers are to be involved in the work of the federal administration.
Harnessing the sustainability of rail freight
With the Green Deal, the European Union aims to become climate-neutral by 2050. On 28 August 2019, the Federal Council aligned Swiss greenhouse gas targets with this. As a consequence, the transport sector must reduce CO2 emissions by 90%. Freight rail is an essential part of the solution towards CO2 neutrality. For example, SBB Cargo uses hybrid locomotives on the last mile. Trains use 90% hydropower for their propulsion, and from 2025 it will be 100% renewable energy. Rail freight should therefore take up a higher share of transports. In transport logistics, there is a trend towards smaller consignment sizes, shorter transit times and higher punctuality requirements. Only a multimodal logistics chain with the freight railway as a strong link can do justice to this package of tasks. Here, logistics service providers bundle the goods or packages for the railway and synchronise them with the timetable. Promoting multimodal logistics solutions in all combination forms of rail, road, Rhine favours energy-efficient and CO2-optimised transport solutions and relieves the environment in social, ecological as well as economic terms. The federal government should support this multimodality with suitable measures.
Not a new concern
SR Dittli had already submitted a similar interpellation in March 2019 (19.3148 «CO2-free rail freight transport and Energy Strategy 2050»), which suggested a reduction in the train path price in connection with the train path price revision as of January 2021 to promote sustainable rail freight transport. In December 2019, several motions with identical wording followed in parliament calling for a support package for public transport based on its sustainability. This new motion is now intended to trigger a strategy definition geared towards passenger and freight transport in order to prevent a further expansion of passenger transport at the expense of freight transport capacities on the network. Above all, however, the remaining legal, operational and technical hurdles in the road/rail interface that hinder multimodal logistics solutions are to be removed as far as possible.
