December 2008 - Switzerland: ACE anchored in law

In December 2008, the debate of the Swiss Parliament on the Freight Traffic Transfer Act will come to a close.

In December 2008, the debate of the Swiss Parliament on the Freight Traffic Transfer Act will come to a close. The final differences were resolved in the Council of States (Small Chamber) on December 3rd and the final vote is expected on the last day of the winter session, December 19th.

• The Freight Traffic Transfer Act will lay the foundations of the Alpine Crossing Exchange (ACE). The ACE is a new Swiss policy instrument for transferring traffic from road to rail. The Federal Council (Government) will be authorised to conclude agreements on an ACE. It is, however, obliged to submit a law for its implementation to Parliament.
• Parliament will adhere to the transfer goal of 650,000 transalpine truck crossings per year, down from the current 1,3 million. However, the deadline for achieving this goal has been put back to 2019, two years after the opening of the Gotthard rail base tunnel. Nevertheless, an intermediary goal of 1 million truck crossings has been set for 2011, which necessitates rapid measures.
• Switzerland will continue to support rail freight transport (unaccompanied combined transport and piggyback transport) with 1.6 billion Swiss francs between 2011-2018.