One of the most heated debates in the European rail freight sector regards the recent decision by Switzerland to introduce new wheel requirements, a move that may end up sidelining much of the rolling stock fleet in the continent. However, the country seems to be gradually bending, introducing a second change to the policy in less than a month.
The Swiss Federal Office of Transport announced it will implement new wheel requirements for rail freight wagons in the aftermath of the derailment in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023. The new requirements included a new minimum diameter, more frequent and more thorough maintenance inspections. And it is for the inspection requirements that the FOT is showing a little flexibility.
Initially, technical inspections would have been scheduled after 50,000 or 200,000 kilometres, depending on brake shoes and wheel size. However, the FOT is now saying that only the distance covered by the wagon will matter. “New knowledge has since become available regarding the average mileage of freight wagons, and the law already requires owners to know the condition of their wagons”, it explained.
The deadline issue
One of the first motives behind the adverse reactions to Switzerland’s unilateral decision, was its deadline, set by the FOT for the beginning of 2026. However, three weeks ago, the decision was changed and the deadline extended to the end of 2026, providing a little wiggle room to the industry.
The initiative is even going to court. Three of the main players in the rolling stock leasing industry, Ermewa, GATX and VTG, have brought the case in front of a Swiss court, hoping to overturn the decision to avoid very expensive adjustments to the fleet. Moreover, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) is working on a continent-wide policy to address the issue of wheel safety, which would bring a more harmonised and feasible change.