Once again, the status quo was saved in the Joint Committee on the Land Transport Agreement, despite the gloomy outlook. In 2024, the EU will once again grant Switzerland limited access to the ERA data platform OSS for one year. How long does Switzerland want to continue working with these dithering parties?
That’s the question:
- What is the aim of the Federal Office of Transport?
- Why is international cooperation important?
- Switzerland must move
- Stability is central to solving upcoming tasks
What is the Federal Office of Transport’s goal?
Trains should be able to travel across borders with as few obstacles as possible. The Swiss standard-gauge network forms a central part of the interoperable European rail network (Single European Railway Area). To make this possible, the FOT periodically harmonises the sovereign Swiss railway regulations with the current European rules of the Interoperability Directive and the Safety Directive. Switzerland should be able to act as an equal partner to the member states in the area of responsibility of the EU Transport Commission (DG MOVE). The overland transport agreement plays a central role in this bilateral cooperation. Ratified agreements create legal certainty and predictability.
Why is international cooperation important?
The EU wants to completely overhaul the existing national railway system and develop it into the strong mode of transport of the future. In future, modern trains are to run across borders on an efficient and standardised rail network without any obstacles. For this far-reaching transformation, rail operations must be redesigned from the ground up and new standardised systems with transparent interfaces must be developed and introduced. This can only be achieved with centralised coordination and guided cross-border cooperation. The 4th Railway Package, which came into force in 2019, forms the legal basis for this: as a European agency, ERA is now responsible for the technical design of standardised procedures and rules as well as for managing European authorisation procedures. For the necessary developments, the EU created new comprehensive organisations with «Europe’s Rail» as part of «Horizon» and provided them with considerable financial resources. Ministries, railway companies, associations and industry are called upon to actively participate in the ERJU’s numerous working groups, consisting of the System and Innovation Pillars, and to contribute their expertise to shaping the future European railway system. The topic of «DAK» is also an integral part of this organisation.
Switzerland must move forward
Over the past 25 years, Switzerland has adopted many elements from the newly organised EU railway world. Thanks to the proven equivalence, important steps towards integration into the European railway system have been achieved. The Federal Council’s decision to break off negotiations on an institutional agreement (InstA) has also meant that no substantial further development of the land transport agreement has been possible in the transport sector since 2021. Switzerland must now choose between isolation and cooperation.
Stability is key to solving upcoming tasks
The comprehensive transformation of the existing European railways, which are strongly national in character, into a modern, efficient overall transport system requires a joint, coordinated effort – going it alone could have serious consequences. Those who are part of it can participate and play an active role in shaping it.
Switzerland must now do its homework:
- Settle political differences with the EU
- Ensure permanent participation in the «Horizon 2020» research programme
- Update the EU-CH land transport agreement
- Implement the railway package market part (market liberalisation at least in international passenger transport)
- Complete rail package (adapt EBV, ERA membership, recognise ERA authorisations, regulate ERA competences)
- Reactivate bilateral agreements on cross-border routes
Transport and logistics are transnational. The planned migration to digitalisation and automation of the railways requires a willingness to make far-reaching changes on the one hand and major investments on the other. Both will only be possible in an efficient and sustainable manner if there is sufficient clarity about future cooperation.
