Using rail and vehicle fees in the Alps: towards the sustainable transport of goods

In order to protect the environment without placing a burden on trade flows, Switzerland has adopted an ambitious transport policy strongly encouraging the transport of goods by rail instead of by road. Two measures stand out: the construction of a system of new tracks and tunnels (the longest is 57 km), the new railway link through the Alps, which greatly shortens the time needed to travel through Switzerland in the north-south direction and hence facilitates crossing the Alps by rail; and the introduction of a performance-related heavy vehicle fee, which is imposed on virtually every truck heavier than 3.5 tons carrying goods in and through Switzerland. The amount charged is based on the mileage covered, the total gross vehicle weight rating and the vehicle’s emission category (“Euro class”). Two thirds of the income generated goes to the federal authorities, who use it first and foremost to finance the construction and maintenance of an efficient railway network, thus further facilitating the switch from polluting road transport to greener rail transport.

Remarkably enough, this policy was not imposed from the top down but has been tested at the ballot box. Both the construction of the new railway link and the introduction of a heavy vehicle fee were supported by the Swiss people in popular referendums.

Source: BLS AG Insfrastruktur. More information is available from http://www.bls.ch/e/infrastruktur/neat-konzept.php.