More regional and night trains between Switzerland and Germany
Agreement on rail traffic signed by Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer
On August 25, 2021, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and the German Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer signed an agreement on international rail traffic that aims, among other things, to expand night and regional connections.
Germany confirms its commitment to expand the capacity of the northern access routes to Alptransit.
With a view to the construction of the New Rail Link through the Alps (Alptransit), Switzerland and Germany agreed in 1996, in the so-called “Lugano Agreement”, to increase capacity on the access routes in accordance with the growth in transport demand.
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Bern and Berlin have been in agreement on Alptransit since 1996
In the meantime, Germany has expanded several sections of the Rhine Valley Railway between Karlsruhe and Basel to four tracks and the German Parliament has decreed the full extension, including the necessary financing.
The completion of this work is currently planned for the end of 2040. Operational measures such as additional train paths for freight trains and selective extensions, for example at the Offenburg junction, will make up for the delays in the schedule. In addition, the routes to Munich and Ulm were expanded and electrified.
In September the Lugano agreement will be 25 years old and the two countries have decided to update and extend its contents.
Professional titles more equivalent between Switzerland and Germany
A digital meeting for the five lustrums “of Lugano”
On August 25, 2021, during a digital meeting, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer signed a new agreement, which replaces the first one.
The access routes to Alptransit remain an essential element and Germany confirms its commitment to increase the capacities of those within its jurisdiction; in addition, the expansion of cross-border connections is planned.
With regard to the expansion of the infrastructure, greater emphasis is placed on cooperation, with common objectives and a coordinated planning process.
The agreement also contains innovations in terms of transport services, such as the expansion of international passenger traffic, including night trains, and regional traffic in border areas.
Guy Parmelin saw the heads of state of the German-speaking countries
Cooperation to be intensified in various fields
The contracting parties also intend to intensify their collaboration in the areas of research, development, innovation and digitalization, and to further simplify cross-border traffic through the harmonization of technical regulations.
“We want to strengthen the transfer policy and make the railways more competitive in passenger traffic as well, with benefits for the climate as well,” stressed the Federal Councillor when signing the new agreement.
Comparison between the five German-speaking countries in Lugano
