Switzerland will introduce a very accurate and advanced model to calculate track access charges in 2017. The new model will be vehicle-based which means that railway operators with trains that damage the rail infrastructure will have to pay more for the use of the tracks. In this way, the procurement of track-friendly trains will be stimulated.
Using SBB’s track deterioration model (Wear Factor, or Verschleissfaktor), the Bundesambt für Verkehr will replace the gross-tonne-depending charge – that is the one addressing track wear and tear – by a vehicle-based model. This ensures much better cost allocation (for example, high wear costs in curves will be charged in curves). This approach provides an incentive to purchase track-friendly vehicles on the one hand, and to use certain train compositions on certain lines if possible, on the other.
Infrastructure managers have to set the charges using the infrastructure at the costs directly incurred by the train service. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/909 on the modalities to calculate direct costs provides details on how infrastructure managers should calculate their direct costs.
The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) in Swizerland and SBB have agreed on a budget of CHF7.632 billion for the rail infrastructure covering the period from 2017 to 2020. This amount is 15% higher than the 2013-2016 agreement. This increase is explained by the need to ensure a greater volume of preventive maintenance, as well as traffic growth and the extension of installations.
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