The shift from road to rail is stalling. That is why the Federal Council intends to extend subsidies for trans-Alpine rail freight transport. In total, approximately 486 million Swiss francs are to be allocated to trans-Alpine rail freight transport by 2035. According to the Federal Council’s announcement, the consultation period runs until August 11, 2026.
The basis for this is the constitutional protection of the Alps. Article 84 of the Federal Constitution mandates the shift of freight transit to rail. The 1994 Alpine Initiative specifies the target at 650,000 truck trips per year. This target serves as a legal benchmark.
Current Assessment of Target Achievement
The data is clear. In 2024, the federal government recorded approximately 960,000 trans-Alpine truck trips. That is 310,000 more than the statutory modal shift target. The modal split is also deteriorating. The rail share fell to 70.3 percent between 2022 and 2024. The currently reported figure of 68.6 percent continues this trend.
Instruments and Logic of Impact
The bill extends operating subsidies for unaccompanied combined transport until 2035. The federal government will refrain from phasing out these subsidies until 2029; starting in 2030, the amount will decrease. A total of approximately 486 million Swiss francs will be allocated from the mineral oil tax. The subsidies have a supportive effect but do not serve as a steering mechanism. The performance-based heavy-vehicle tax remains the central steering instrument.
Risks and Context
Several factors are hampering the shift. Construction work on the north-south axis is reducing reliability. In addition, the rolling highway—which handles around 70,000 trips per year—will be discontinued at the end of 2025. This increases the risk of a reversal of the shift. The proposal is intended to mitigate this effect.
Measure Stabilizes the System in the Short Term
The measure stabilizes the system in the short term. It does not initiate a trend reversal. That would require reliable train paths, foreign feeder lines, and price signals. The consultation period, which runs through August 2026, will reveal which stakeholders are calling for which adjustments.
What does the modal shift target regulate?
It limits trans-Alpine truck trips to 650,000 per year. The basis for this is the 1994 Alpine Initiative.
How is the target being met?
The target will not be met. In 2024, approximately 960,000 trucks crossed the Alps, and the share of rail transport is declining.
Which instrument has the greatest impact on modal shift?
The performance-based heavy vehicle fee (LSVA). Operating subsidies complement it but do not replace it.
What is the effect of the extended funding?
It stabilizes combined transport through 2035. It does not reverse the trend.
