With its motion 21.3594 «Mitigating the effects of the pandemic on rail freight transport», the Committee for Transport and Telecommunications of the Council of States wants the Federal Council to provide financial support to rail freight transport companies for the effects of Covid-19 in 2021 on the basis of Article 9a of the Freight Transport Act (GüTG) and to apply to Parliament for a supplementary credit for this purpose.
You can read the exact wording of motion 21.3594 «Mitigating the effects of the pandemic on rail freight transport» here.
Prevent price increases
We at the VAP welcome renewed financial aid to SBB Cargo and, if necessary, to other freight railways – on condition that SBB Cargo does not increase prices for 2021 and withdraws price increases already agreed for subsequent years. Particular mention should be made of the reduction in train path prices as of 1 January 2021, which will relieve the freight railways of a total of around CHF 30 million per year. In this debate, it is crucial that the joint efforts of the Wagonload Transport Interest Group (IG WLV) to increase productivity at SBB Cargo make progress and are not delayed or neglected by Covid-19.
