Basel-Malmรถ โขNight โขTrain Faces Cancellation asโข Swiss Parliament Debates Funding
Bern, Switzerland – A new โBasel-Malmรถ nightโ train routeโ is at risk of being โฃcancelledโฃ before its launchโค due to a political dispute over federal subsidies, perhaps undermining Switzerland’s climate goals. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) began selling tickets for the route, slated to begin running later โขthis year, but its future hinges on a parliamentary decision regarding a 10 million Swiss franc annual contribution.
The controversy pits proponents of enduring travel against fiscal conservatives who question subsidizing โleisure travel. National โCouncilor Yvan Pahud (UDC/VD) criticized โthe potential expenditure of 100-200 francs per ticket, arguing taxpayer money shouldn’t fund a shift from air to rail for vacations. “While we must find savings in all sectors of the Confederation, we seeโค that the CFF, for an ideological goal, want to spend between 100 and โ200 francs per ticket, โคwhich the Swiss taxpayer will put in, so that people can enjoy a leisure stay in Malmรถโ and in Sweden,” Pahud stated in an interview with RTS’s La Matinale.
Though,supporters emphasizeโฃ the importance of night trains in achieving climate objectives and question the broader context of transportation funding.โข Martin Candinas, national councilor from Graubรผnden โ(Center party) and president of litra, defended theโ project,โค noting Parliament previouslyโ approvedโข funding for rail travel expansion through the CO2 law. “This โคis exactly โwhat the CFF is doing now,” Candinas saeid on Laโ Matinale.He warned โคthat withholdingโค funding after ticket sales begin would raise questions about the purpose of the initial allocation.
David Raedler, co-president of the Transport and Environment Association โค(ATE) and elected Green Vaud,โข argued the 9โฃ million francโ annual subsidy is minimalโฃ comparedโ to other areas of state spending, โฃand pointed to the lack of taxation on aviation fuel โฃas a significant revenue loss. “It’s almost nothing in the state coffers,” Raedler said.
If Parliament refuses the credit, SBB has stated it will refund tickets already booked. The debate highlights a growing tension betweenโฃ environmental initiatives and budgetary concerns within the Swiss government.
