The Federal Council and the Canton of Vaud are stepping up their commitment to rail freight transport. The aim is twofold: to meet growing logistics needs while limiting environmental impact and road congestion.

 

Faced with an expected 31% increase in the volume of goods transported by 2050, the authorities have defined several lines of action to modernize and develop rail infrastructures. These include : 

 

  • Funding of CHF 180 million for the introduction of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC), to optimize wagon management and handling.
  • Support of 260 million francs over four years to ensure the economic viability of wagonload transport, an essential mode of transport for many companies, but one that is currently unprofitable.
  • 60 million francs per year, for an unlimited period, to finance transshipment infrastructures and encourage more efficient multimodal logistics.

 

At the same time, the Canton of Vaud is fully committed to this dynamic, with a strong ambition to increase the proportion of freight transported by rail to 45% by 2050. To achieve this, it is supporting the acquisition of new locomotives, the creation of suitable loading facilities and the development of optimized urban logistics.

Rail transport currently accounts for 40% of goods flows in Switzerland. Its development is essential to meet economic imperatives, while at the same time meeting climate objectives and improving citizens’ quality of life. This transition to a more sustainable model requires long-term investment and close cooperation between public and private players.