Michael Gehrken
Michael Gehrken has been firmly established in the Swiss mobility landscape for many years – as a communicator, association director, and strategic thinker. After starting out as a journalist, he moved to the federal administration, where he initially worked as head of communications at the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) and later as co-responsible for NEAT communications at the Federal Office of Transport (FOT).
From 2006 to 2014, he was director of the Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association ASTAG, where he had a significant influence on industry communications. Today, as president of L-drive Switzerland, the umbrella organization for Swiss driving instructors, he is at the forefront of an important voice in the field of road safety and training.
With the mobility-360.ch platform, Michael Gehrken is committed to independent, fact-based, and forward-looking reporting on all aspects of mobility—from new technologies to social developments. His writing combines experience in politics, business, and practice with a clear vision of the mobility of tomorrow.
Startseite » Swiss public transportation is top-notch — and relies on the road
Swiss public transportation is top-notch — and relies on the road
• To ensure this remains the case, reliable investment is needed—that is undisputed.
• But Verkehr'45 must not displace road transport: public transport itself relies heavily on roads; roads and rail are partners.
No country in Europe uses rail as much as Switzerland. Per capita, we travel about 2,400 rail kilometers per year. That is a European record, and by a wide margin. Train frequency is also highest here. About 161 trains per route run daily on the SBB network. By comparison: In Germany, the figure is only 93. Then there is safety. Switzerland leads Europe in the number of passengers killed or seriously injured. And over 95 percent of regional trains run on time, as the latest reports from the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) show.
Top quality comes at a price
However, this quality doesn’t come for free. Public transit is expensive for both travelers and the government. Switzerland invests more per capita in rail than almost any other country. But the return is worth it: a dense, safe, and reliable network. If we want to maintain this, we must continue to invest. That much is clear.
Roads and rail are not adversaries
The issue becomes delicate when it comes to where the money will come from in the future, or rather, how much money should be invested in which mode of transport. With Transport Minister Albert Rösti’s Verkehr’45 project, major investments are on the horizon. However, these must not be made at the expense of road transport in such a one-sided manner as is currently planned. After all, around two-thirds of traffic continues to travel by road—including large portions of regional passenger transport via public transit. Nevertheless, certain political circles still occasionally pit the two modes of transport against each other. This is neither necessary nor wise.
Public transit also relies on the road
It is evident that even in Switzerland, public transit largely operates on the road. The federal government and cantons commission around 1,600 routes in regional passenger transport. Many of these are bus routes. PostBus alone operates 950 routes and carries around 183 million passengers annually. In total, the road-based public transport network spans approximately 21,200 kilometers. By contrast, the rail network measures only 5,400 kilometers. Public transport therefore relies on the road itself. Roads and railways are thus not adversaries, but partners. And when cars are stuck in traffic jams in urban areas and cities, road-based public transport often suffers as well, especially since there is often a lack of space for separate bus lanes.
Both-and instead of either-or
The conclusion is therefore simple. Switzerland should maintain and expand its first-class public transport system. This requires reliable investment; that is undisputed. But a smart transport policy considers rail and road together. Those who pit one mode of transport against the other ultimately weaken both. The strength of the Swiss system has never been “either-or.” It has always been “both-and.”
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Michael Gehrken
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