Switzerland Must Pre-finance Railway Infrastructure to Avoid Gridlock

Following the recent vote on the "No to 10 Million Swiss!" initiative, a widespread analysis highlights the urgent need to address the consequences of demographic growth, particularly in transportation. For about fifteen years, Switzerland's main railway network has been notably under-dimensioned. The east-west axis of the Swiss Plateau is particularly strained, with hundreds of thousands of commuters facing packed trains, a situation heavily featured in the campaign for the initiative.

While several projects have been launched to increase capacity at specific points, the overall effort remains insufficient to bridge the gap between supply and demand. This inadequacy is a growing source of frustration for the public. Paradoxically, amidst this recognized problem and tense situation, the Federal Council intends to slash investments in railway capacity development.

Specifically, the government is considering postponing several high-priority projects. Among these is the Morges-Perroy tunnel project, which has already been approved by the Federal Assemblies and is considered essential as the first phase of a new Geneva-Lausanne railway line. This proposed cutback raises serious concerns about the future of Swiss public transport infrastructure.

The article argues for a proactive approach, suggesting that railway infrastructure should be pre-financed to overcome the current impasse. This implies securing funding in advance to ensure that necessary expansion projects can proceed without delay, thereby preventing further deterioration of service quality and public dissatisfaction.