The current net debt of the SBB is well over eleven billion francs. The federal railways will now receive contributions totaling approximately CHF 3 billion from the government. This should enable them to reduce their net debt to the target set by the Federal Council by 2030.
The state government announced on Wednesday that it would adjust last year’s measures to stabilize SBB’s financial situation. It has received the mandate from parliament for this.
Debts of more than 11 billion
The Federal Council continues to write that austerity measures already taken are evident. As announced in December 2021, he wants to prevent SBB from having to improve its profits by eighty million francs a year.
In addition, the Federal Council wants to make an à fonds perdu contribution of probably CHF 1.25 billion. This is intended to offset the losses in long-haul traffic from the pandemic years 2020 to 2022. This requires an amendment to the SBB Act.
Heavy traffic must subsidize infrastructure
Transport Minister Simonetta Sommaruga (62) will submit another proposal to amend the SBB law for consultation. According to the announcement, this should clarify which financing instruments are available to SBB. The steadily increasing indebtedness of the federal government due to treasury loans to the SBB must be stopped.
The Federal Council also proposes an amendment to the Heavy Vehicle Tax Act (SVAG). To ensure the expansion of the rail network, the government wants to fully compensate the missing resources in the Railway Infrastructure Fund (BIF). As long as its reserves are not sufficient, the amendment to the law should ensure that two-thirds of the net revenue from the performance-related fee for heavy vehicles (LSVA) flows entirely into the BIF.
The Federal Council instructed the competent services to prepare the accounts. A consultation is planned for the end of 2022.
(SDA/tom)