Transport 45: consultation exposes rift over 50-billion-franc plan

The public consultation on Trasporti 45, the Federal Council plan that for the first time brings rail, motorways and agglomeration traffic together in a single planning framework, closed on Friday. Based on an assessment by ETH Zurich, the project foresees around 50 billion francs in investment by 2045. A first package worth 11 billion francs is due to go before Parliament in early 2027, with a second message to follow in 2031.

For rail, improvements are planned both in French-speaking Switzerland, including upgrades to the Biel-Lausanne/Geneva line, a new direct line between Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds, and the expansion of Geneva Cornavin station, and in German-speaking Switzerland, with more frequent services between Bern, Zurich, Lucerne and Basel. The first stage of Lucerne's underground through-station and the Grimsel tunnel also remain in the project, with the latter criticised by opponents who consider the funds earmarked for it too high relative to its benefits. On the road side, the Federal Council has instead dropped 31 projects worth around 16 billion francs, keeping only the expansion to six lanes between Perly and Bernex in canton Geneva and a project in canton Aargau.

Financing remains the central sticking point. For rail, 10 of the 24 billion francs needed are still missing, and the Federal Council plans to close the gap by extending beyond 2030 the currently temporary VAT surcharge earmarked for the rail infrastructure fund. The FDP, the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Centre back the measure but want greater transparency on the fund's finances; the Swiss People's Party firmly opposes it. The Swiss Federal Railways and the Union of Public Transport also consider the planned resources insufficient, while the Swiss Association for Transport and Environment objects to cutting road projects rather than investing more in rail and active mobility. Several cantons, including authorities in French-speaking Switzerland, are calling for more realistic financial planning before giving the project their full backing.

A critical audit

The debate has also been shaped by an audit from the Swiss Federal Audit Office, which in mid-September flagged significant weaknesses in the project, concerns it had already raised with the Federal Department of Transport before the consultation opened. The audit office had called for Trasporti 45 to be suspended until the problem areas were resolved, a request that raises questions about the reliability of the cost estimates and the timeline for Parliament to rule on the first 11-billion package. It remains to be seen whether extending the VAT surcharge will be enough to secure lasting funding for the rail fund, or whether the scope of the programme will need to be revisited to stay sustainable for federal finances.