Opinions differ on funding for regional transport
Published: Sunday, Oct 20th 2024, 09:50
العودة إلى البث المباشر
A CHF 3.5 billion commitment credit for the compensation of regional passenger transport for the years 2026 to 2028 is met with scepticism or even rejection from the SVP and FDP due to the costs. Support comes from the center. The SP and public transport industry associations are calling for more funding.
The Federal Council submitted the loan for consultation at the end of June. Interested parties had until Friday to submit their comments.
Specifically, this relates to the rail, bus, boat and cable car services that the federal government and cantons jointly order from public transport providers in the respective regions. Revenues from tickets and season tickets only cover about half of the costs in this area. The Confederation and cantons each cover half of the remainder.
The federal government has repeatedly increased its compensation in recent years, the state government wrote at the opening of the consultation process. The new commitment credit provides for a further increase of 1.7% per year on average.
SVP calls for halt to march
The SVP responds to this fact in its statement. It is calling for a standstill in cost development, higher hurdles for a federal subsidy and a higher contribution margin from actual transport revenue. According to its own statements, the party rejects the proposal insofar as the credit requests go beyond the necessary maintenance costs and the existing services.
The "luxurious, excessive subsidies are to be used to expand transport services beyond the existing services and to cover the follow-up costs of the investments deemed necessary for this", writes the party. For the SVP, the importance of regional passenger transport is beyond question. However, the development must be proportionate.
Discussion about cost-cutting measures
The FDP recognizes that regional passenger transport and long-distance transport together form the basis for a functioning basic public transport service for the population. This is an important location factor for Switzerland. Against the backdrop of tight federal finances, however, any cost-cutting measures should be discussed at present.
Sacrificial symmetry should be the guiding principle here. The party therefore emphasizes that increasing the level of cost recovery in regional passenger transport and adjusting the range of services should also be discussed.
Fear of switching to the car
Support comes from the center. It points to the great importance of regional passenger transport for commuters and for the cohesion of the country. It does express understanding for the fact that, given the state of federal finances, austerity measures are to be expected in this area in the coming years. At the same time, however, she warns that public transport could become less attractive. In addition, higher ticket prices would reduce the purchasing power of the population.
The SP considers the commitment credit to be too low. It is calling for an increase of CHF 210 million. Otherwise, already planned service expansions and necessary investments would have to be stopped. In addition, the electrification of buses, for example, would have to be postponed. This would not make sense from an environmental point of view. Like the Center Party, the Social Democrats also warn of the negative consequences of higher fares. There is a risk that people will increasingly switch to cars.
Industry does not see demand covered
The Association of Public Transport (VöV) is also calling for more money. The CHF 3.496 billion is CHF 350 million less than the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) and the public transport sector calculated last year. In view of the numerous challenges, not only in terms of climate policy, the VöV is therefore calling for the compensation envisaged by the Federal Council to be increased by CHF 210 million.
The Swiss Public Transport Interest Group (IGöV) is also calling for the credit to be increased by at least CHF 250 million in order to achieve the federal government's strategic goals in public transport.
©كيستون/إسدا
Arabic 
English 
German 
French 
Spanish