Summary

The Swiss Railway Commission (RailCom) issued two legally binding decisions in 2025 regarding non-discriminatory access to rail networks and intermodal transport facilities. As of 01.01.2026, RailCom is additionally responsible for monitoring non-discriminatory access to port infrastructure on the Rhine. Rhine ports are now required to grant fair infrastructure access. RailCom is also committed to improving access to infrastructure data in the railway sector and organizes specialist conferences for this purpose.

Persons

  • RailCom (Railway Commission)

Topics

  • Transport Infrastructure
  • Non-Discriminatory Access
  • Railway Transport
  • Port Infrastructure
  • Infrastructure Data

Clarus Lead

The expansion of RailCom's competencies to Rhine ports marks a structural extension of regulation in the Swiss transport sector. With the revised Freight Transport Act, access control is now extended to waterways – a signal of growing harmonization of infrastructure access rules across transport modes. The planned National Mobility Data Infrastructure (MODI) furthermore indicates a digital modernization intended to ensure fair competitive conditions through data transparency.

Detailed Summary

RailCom concentrated its regulatory function in 2025 on two core areas. First, it issued two binding decisions regulating access to rail networks and intermodal transport facilities – thereby preventing discrimination in the use of these critical infrastructures. Second, it assumed new responsibilities for Swiss Rhine ports effective January 1, 2026, which are henceforth required to grant port access without discrimination. This expansion of competencies is based on the revision of the Freight Transport Act.

A third focus lies at the infrastructure data level. RailCom organized a specialist conference in 2025 on the topic of infrastructure data to consolidate various industry perspectives and develop initial practical use cases. In the context of the planned National Mobility Data Infrastructure (MODI), RailCom bears responsibility for the transport infrastructure use case with a focus on railways – a step toward digital standardization of access rules.

Key Statements

  • RailCom issued two legally binding decisions in 2025 for non-discriminatory access to rail networks and intermodal facilities
  • New responsibility as of 01.01.2026: monitoring fair access to Swiss Rhine ports
  • Commitment to infrastructure data and co-development of the planned Mobility Data Infrastructure (MODI)

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: What specific cases of discrimination led to the two decisions in 2025, and how are these documented?

  2. Enforcement: What sanction mechanisms are available to RailCom to ensure compliance with access obligations by Rhine ports?

  3. Data Standards: What technical and legal standards does MODI define for infrastructure data, and who bears the implementation costs?

  4. Competition: To what extent do the new regulations address structural market power imbalances between established infrastructure providers and new market participants?

  5. Stakeholder Consensus: How was industry consensus achieved at the 2025 specialist conference, and what conflicts of interest exist between infrastructure providers and users?

  6. Implementation Risks: What technical or organizational obstacles might Rhine ports encounter when implementing access obligations from 2026 onwards?

Source Directory

Primary Source: RailCom Activity Report 2025 – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/z2kMAqHKxhQc

Verification Status: ✓ 27.04.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 27.04.2026