TRAN COMMITTEE DEBATES RAIL FREIGHT CORRIDORS THROUGH SWITZERLAND
Following the accident in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2023 in September 2025, Switzerland adopted unilateral measures affecting rail freight traffic crossing its territory. These measures were introduced despite ongoing work between EU Member States and Switzerland to develop a coordinated solution through the Joint Network Secretariat (JNS) procedure established by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA). The JNS adopted its recommendations for joint sectoral measures in December 2025. Mr Kristian Schmidt from DG MOVE was invited to present the state of play, given the concerns raised about the unilateral action taken by Switzerland.
Since Switzerland is a key part of the European rail network, the measures taken cause major disruptions to the freight flow on one of Europe’s most important rail freight corridors running through Switzerland, linking Northern and Southern Europe. Mr Schmidt reported that ERA’s estimation of related costs for the sector ranged from 150 million to 1 billion euros per year, while the coordinated solution could cost far less.
He confirmed that at the next JNS meeting in June 2026, the Commission will push for the adoption of the joint solution, which he is confident the Swiss counterpart would accept, ending the unilateral measures. During the discussion, members from all political groups expressed strong support for an EU solution and for having unilateral measures end as soon as possible.