By direct train to London with no changes

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“Many people want to travel climate-neutral these days. But if they have to change trains several times for a train journey in Europe, they still take the plane.” That is what SP federal councilor Matthias Aebischer (55) says. That is why he is now calling on the Federal Council to investigate with France and Great Britain how a direct daily train connection Basel-London can be established.

“Since the journey time would be only five and a half hours and the trains in London could go directly to the city centre, such a connection would be extremely attractive and competitive with the existing air connections,” explains de Berner. Because nowadays Swiss train travelers have to transfer and transfer in Paris at the latest.

“The connection has a lot of potential”

Strengthening rail transport in international traffic makes an important contribution to achieving the climate goals, says Aebischer. “But the track can only be strengthened if there are attractive train connections.” You can already travel directly to London from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. “With a push from Switzerland, this could also be done from Basel without any problems,” he says. The initiative was also signed by Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (59) from the middle-national council from Basel.

Ueli Stückelberger (53), director of the Public Transport Association, thinks the initiative is worth supporting: “I think a direct train connection from Basel to London has a lot of potential.” The potential of travelers who want to travel climate-consciously is increasing.

It needs security controls

As Britain has left the EU and is only a limited participant in the Schengen Agreement, just like at the airport, travelers must go through security and passport checks before boarding. Switzerland should therefore set up a security check at the SBB train station, Stückelberger tells Blick. “But this is not an insurmountable structural obstacle, since it was also possible to set up such a security check in Paris.”

In principle, the Bundesrat supports the promotion of international passenger transport by rail, in particular night trains to replace short-haul flights. As part of the KO₂law, currently in parliament, he proposes that public transport companies receive financial support of CHF 30 million until the end of 2030 to offer new offers in cross-border passenger transport by rail. These are financed by earmarking auction proceeds from aircraft emission allowances.

SBB cannot be viewed on maps

Ultimately, however, it is the railway companies that decide whether and under what conditions an offer should be made on a route or not.

At SBB, when asked, it is said that political decency dictates that the company does not anticipate the Bundesrat. It is therefore not possible to say whether such a route is being explored or even advocated. The number of tickets already sold for the Switzerland-London route is also not registered.

Source:Blick