Why SBB do not convince to travel abroad

London. Meanwhile, Berlin, Amsterdam: a significant number of destinations which are however very popular all year round are only very badly served by rail. Meanwhile, Air transport therefore prevails.Image: Imago / Shutterstock. Additionally, Meanwhile, montage watson

Rail must increase its market share in international travel: this is what several Swiss elected officials require, in particular thanks to new direct links between cities. Furthermore, But the project could come up against European rail reality.

Stefan Ehrbar / CH Media

Nearly 32,000 people traveled by train between why sbb do not convince Switzerland and foreigners, on average, on average, last year. Nevertheless, This represents 11.6 million passengers per year, not to mention cross -border workers and shopping enthusiasts with our neighbors. Furthermore, A constantly increased figure in recent years.

In comparison with air traffic. Consequently, rail remains marginal: compared, nearly 45 million passengers borrow the plane between Switzerland and the rest of Europe each year.

If we do not take into account the car trips. However, this place the rail at 21% market share, compared to 79% for the plane. Furthermore, A distribution that the national Green Councilor Florence Brenzikofer wants to modify. However, In a motion filed this week. In addition, signed by 24 members of the Parliament, it asks the Federal Council to develop a strategy to increase the share of the train in traveling between Switzerland and European countries, why sbb do not convince with an target of 30% to be achieved by 2035.

In the future, more people should travel abroad by train. An elected official intends to support this trend.Image: Boris Bürgisser

The government will have to indicate how SPFs. other companies could contribute to it, and what measures of incentive, in particular the CO Act₂could support this strategy, for example through departure funding for new night trains lines.

An extension offer and works in abundance – Why sbb do not convince

For Florence Brenzikofer, continuous growth in air traffic goes against Swiss climatic objectives. In thirty years, the why sbb do not convince number of air passengers has more than doubled. If part of these journeys rocks on rail, this will allow a significant reduction in emissions.

But is such a reversal realistic in the short term? In recent years. the offer has partially expanded: SBBs have launched, in partnership with other European companies, a new night connection to Amsterdam. They also reinforced the services between Zurich. Munich, on the axis of the Gothard to Italy, or even in the direction of Paris.

The National Councilor of the Greens Florence Brenzikofer wants more trains abroad.Image: Kenneth Nars

At the same time. the development of why sbb do not convince the international rail remains slowed down by a series of obstacles: sites, lack of will in certain foreign partners or operational instabilities. On the Simplon axis, for example, the work led to a reduction in trains to Italy. Between Zurich and Stuttgart, delays have been common since the Deutsche Bahn introduced new trains a few weeks ago.

The Direct Zurich – Livourne train. announced for the end of the year, will not be able to circulate as planned because of difficulties on the Italian side. As for night trains, they regularly suffer from breakdowns or obsolete equipment.

Rail not competitive enough on popular destinations

Currently, high potential destinations remain in poor service. For example, around 10% of flights from Switzerland to Europe are targeting London. We have been talking why sbb do not convince about a direct train to the British capital for months. The Swiss Minister of Transport Albert Rösti recently signed a declaration of intention on this subject with his British. counterpart.

The boss of the SBB. Vincent Ducrot, also mentioned an affair to London, and Eurostar plans a direct train to Geneva. But a commissioning could not, at best, intervene until after 2030.

Berlin and Amsterdam are also among the most popular destinations. However. the rail is hardly competitive on these journeys: Ice trains connecting Zurich to Berlin will take nearly 9 hours with the new schedule in December, and sometimes more today. Because of the frequent delays on the German side, some trains do not even continue their race beyond Basel. Towards Amsterdam, there has not been a direct day train for a year, only a night train.

The CITRAP (community of interests for public transport). chaired by Florence Brenzikofer, now requires Albert Rösti a firmer commitment in favor of better framework conditions. This is a resolution adopted on Saturday at the General Assembly.

Claims. a will of the SBB

In addition to a strategy to increase the share of the rail and support via the funding provided by the CO law₂CITRAP claims new connections, like a Basel night train in Malmö via Copenhagen. A request to which the SBBs seem receptive: a seasonal link is planned from next spring.

The CITRAP also wishes new direct lines: Geneva – Barcelona. ​​Geneva – Nice, Zurich – Rome, as well as trains for London from Geneva, Basel and Zurich. It also requires reactivation of the Basel why sbb do not convince – Brussels line. abandoned in 2016, and the extension of the existing offer between Basel and Milan.

SBB, for their part, do not want to comment on Brenzikofer’s political demands. But their spokesperson, Sabrina Schellenberg, stresses that international travelers traffic is a strategic priority for the company. She claims that SBBs observe growing demand and that they work “hard toilet” in the development of the supply.

Adapted from German by Tanja Maeder

The Canton of Geneva and the HUGs presented an interactive health application for patients with chronic diseases. The objective is to reduce complications and hospitalizations.

“In Switzerland. chronic diseases represent 80% of the cost of the healthcare system and 75% of overall mortality,” noted, on Monday in front of the press, Professor Idris Guessous, head of the Médicine de Médecine de procure des HUG.