Executive Summary
On 26 June 2026, representatives of Switzerland and the EU met for the biannual session of the Joint Land Transport Committee in Bern. The Swiss delegation presented safety measures in rail freight transport that were implemented by the Federal Office of Transport following the accident in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. At the same time, Switzerland informed the committee of a parliamentary mandate to introduce a transit fee for transit traffic from neighboring countries. The meeting served to exchange information and strengthen transport relations between the two parties.
Persons
- Christa Hostettler (Director Federal Office of Transport; Chair)
- Kristian Schmidt (Director Land Transport, European Commission)
Topics
- Rail freight transport and safety
- Switzerland-EU transport relations
- Transit traffic fees
- Gotthard Base Tunnel
Clarus Lead
Switzerland positions itself as an active reformer in European transport negotiations: Following the Gotthard accident, the country demonstrates concrete safety measures while simultaneously implementing a controversial transit fee for transit traffic. This dual strategy signals that Switzerland wants to raise European safety standards without loosening its transit control – a balancing act between regulatory harmonization and national transport policy.
Detailed Summary
The Federal Office of Transport has developed a comprehensive package of measures to increase safety in rail freight transport following the Gotthard Base Tunnel accident. The Swiss delegation emphasized in the EU meeting that these measures should be understood not in isolation, but as part of an all-European solution – a signal for regulatory coordination across national borders.
In parallel, Switzerland is concretizing its transit traffic policy: Parliament has issued a mandate to introduce a transit fee for vehicles that pass through Switzerland without a longer stay en route to another neighboring country. An important exemption applies: commercial passenger and freight transport remain exempt from such fees according to the Land Transport Agreement. Collection is to take place according to differentiated criteria – traffic volume and time of day are considered as factors. This points to a sophisticated fee model that distinguishes between transit burden and economic reality.
Key Messages
- Switzerland presents concrete safety measures in rail freight transport following the Gotthard accident as a European reform signal
- Transit fee for transit traffic is being introduced, with exceptions for commercial transport according to EU agreement
- Differentiated fee model takes traffic volume and time of day into account to manage transit burdens
Critical Questions
Evidence/Data Quality: What specific safety measures has the BAV implemented following the Gotthard accident, and on what data basis were these assessed as sufficient?
Conflicts of Interest: How is it ensured that the transit fee does not lead to traffic diversion to secondary routes that may be less regulated?
Causality/Alternatives: Why was the transit fee chosen as an instrument of transit control instead of technical measures or route restrictions?
Feasibility: How are the differentiated fee criteria (traffic volume, time of day) technically recorded and enforced, and what administrative costs arise?
Conflicts of Interest (EU Perspective): To what extent could the Swiss fee be interpreted as protectionism against EU transit traffic, despite the exemption for commercial transport?
Sources
Primary Source: Fire Disaster in Crans-Montana / Latest Federal Council Conferences – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/n1l6UaH5GTAXnIJKrNFWU
Verification Status: ✓ 26.06.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 26.06.2026