Abstract: During the next two decades, Switzerland's rail network, known for its efficiency, popularity, and affordability, will face difficult challenges. A trend expected to continue, for example, is rail passenger levels that have exceeded even the most optimistic estimates in the last two years, creating problematic bottlenecks. The Swiss Federal Office of Transport has developed the Rail 2030 program to complement an existing program for developing Swiss railroad infrastructure. Scheduled to be implemented in 2011, the US$5.5 billion program is designed to maximize existing infrastructure potential, increase capacity, and improve connections. Swiss Federal Railways also is optimistic about meeting network challenges. This optimism includes adding more double decker trains and maintaining the existing network, which will, in years to come, have added costs due to newly constructed line elements. Passenger rail liberalization, including potential compliance with European Union (EU) legislation as an EU non-member, and overall rail financing are discussed. An insert describes the Suissetraffic 2009 international trade fair that took place in Bern, Switzerland, in November.
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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