{"id":254554,"date":"2025-07-21T20:16:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T10:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=64348"},"modified":"2025-07-21T20:16:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T10:16:49","slug":"swiss-politician-blasts-the-eu-their-failures-are-sabotaging-our-rail-freight-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=254554","title":{"rendered":"Swiss politician blasts the EU: \u2018their failures are sabotaging our rail freight policies\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite years of investments and policies, rail freight in Switzerland is not having the time of its life. Much of the fault is to be attributed to the European Union\u2019s approach which \u201csabotages Swiss policies\u201d, according to Lorenzo Quadri, member of Switzerland\u2019s National Council.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Quadri pointed out three recent developments which highlight the current situation in the Helvetic Federation. First, the announcement of SBB Cargo<\/a> on the closure of various terminals, accompanied by dozens of layoffs. Then, the interruption of the rolling highway service<\/a> between Italy and Germany via Switzerland, which will cease operations at the end of 2025. Finally, the number of trucks<\/a> crossing the country is still way too high.<\/p>\n

\u2018Believing in the EU is like believing in Santa Claus\u2019<\/h2>\n

\u201cRail freight transport in Switzerland seems headed for a predictable collapse\u201d, Quadri wrote in an opinion piece on Swiss publication Il Mattino Online (where he is chief editor). His words do find confirmation in the latest data. In terms of tonnes\/kilometre, the country recorded its worst results in 15 years, according to 2024 data. The modal share of rail freight for transalpine traffic also declined, from 72% in 2023 to 70.2% last year.<\/p>\n

All these negative trends, according to Quadri, are caused by policies (or lack thereof) from the European Union. \u201cBrussels is blocking any Swiss attempts to increase the heavy vehicle tax for European trucks\u201d, he lamented. Quadri\u2019s faith in the EU is almost non-existent, as he compared believing in the Union to make road transport less attractive is like believing in Santa Claus.<\/p>\n

Swiss companies and institutions, from their part, are not giving up. Since most of the problems seem to come from neighbouring countries (Italy and France especially), Switzerland is trying to take matters into its own hands. With investments in Italian terminals (Milan, Brescia, Piacenza and Domodossola) and French railway lines (Metz\u2013Strasbourg<\/a>), the hope is to improve the situation in the next few years, but concerns will continue to remain.<\/p>\n