Parties and groups seek changes to Switzerland’s Transport 2045 plan

Swiss parties, cantons and associations have called for changes to Transport 2045, a plan to prioritise road, rail and urban transport projects through 2045. In responses to the consultation, many criticised parts of the proposal, but none of the national parties opposed it outright, SRF reports.

Most parties welcomed the decision to plan projects across different modes of transport in one package and set priorities. The Social Democratic Party said, however, that road and rail were not being considered together consistently enough.

The proposed plan allocates substantially more funding to rail than to roads. The Green Party and Social Democrats support that balance, while the Swiss People’s Party described it as an ideologically motivated tilt against road transport. The Free Democratic Party called for more balance, and The Centre said the transport modes should not be played off against each other. The transport association VCS strongly criticised investment in motorway projects, while the touring club TCS warned against neglecting road infrastructure.

The Free Democrats and The Centre said the cost of rail projects must be monitored. Several parties and groups also stressed that enough money must remain to maintain existing infrastructure, pointing to the poor condition of Germany’s rail network. All parties except the Swiss People’s Party support the Federal Council’s proposed funding arrangement: making permanent a slight increase in value-added tax that is currently due to expire in 2030 and is used to fund rail infrastructure.

Cantons also raised concerns. Zurich called for key projects, including the expansion of Zurich Stadelhofen station, to go ahead immediately rather than wait for the wider plan. Lucerne was largely positive and welcomed the prioritisation of its planned through-station.

The Federal Audit Office has criticised the plan, saying key information needed to assess and prioritise projects is missing. It said some figures, including investment costs, are outdated and the economic benefits of some projects may be overstated. The office called for the plan to be suspended until major issues were resolved, but the Federal Council did not follow that recommendation. Consultation responses also urged the government to make improvements.

The proposed Grimseltunnel, which would connect the Bernese Oberland and Valais by narrow-gauge railway, faces opposition. The Green Party, Social Democrats and Swiss People’s Party called for it to be removed from the plan, arguing that its costs do not justify its benefits. Supporters and opponents are also present within the Free Democrats and The Centre.

The Federal Council will revise the proposal before it goes to Switzerland’s parliament next year for consideration by both chambers.