National Council increases funding for regional passenger transport
Published: Thursday, Dec 5th 2024, 12:30
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The National Council wants to make more money available for regional passenger transport in 2025 than the Federal Council, namely around CHF 1.13 billion. It is also demanding that the credit freeze for the CHF 30 million to promote night trains be waived.
The increase of CHF 7.7 million for regional passenger transport was approved by the National Council on Thursday by 102 votes to 90 when discussing the 2025 federal budget. The SVP and FDP had wanted to stick to the Federal Council's line.
Cantons dependent on money
Simon Stadler (center/UR) replied that many cantons were dependent on federal contributions for regional public transport. Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter referred to the difficult budgetary situation and the necessary cross-sectional cuts.
The National Council wants the Federal Council to approve the loan to promote international rail transport - especially night trains. However, Parliament can only ask, the Federal Council will decide. The government wants to prevent a stop-and-go policy, said Keller-Sutter with regard to the announced austerity package.
Alex Farinelli (FDP/TI) said that rail companies had not yet indicated that they would set up such connections. Night trains are mainly used in leisure time, said Yvan Pahud (SVP/VD). It was therefore not appropriate for the state to subsidize the service. The minority would have wanted to cancel the credit for night trains.
At the request of a minority, the Council also decided to demand that the Federal Council waive the credit freeze for converting buses and ships to alternative drive systems. "Cutting back here is completely wrong," said Gerhard Andrey (Greens/FR). Barbara Schaffner (GLP/ZH) warned against putting the brakes on decarbonization.
Keller-Sutter said that work on an alternative for the promotion of retrofitting in the Department of the Environment was underway. The National Council approved the credit for the promotion of international rail passenger transport in the budget, against the wishes of the SVP and FDP.
More money for the forest
The National Council wants to make more funds available for forests in 2025 than the Federal Council. It increased the budget for the forest program agreement by CHF 17.5 million to CHF 134.2 million, against the wishes of representatives of the SVP, FDP and GLP.
The National Council rejected proposals from the SP and the Greens for more money for the revitalization of bodies of water and protection against natural hazards. However, it approved the higher amounts for flood protection and the prevention of natural hazards subsequently requested by the Federal Council.
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