Switzerland-Sweden rail connection stirs up debate due to disagreements over financing and potential environmental impacts.
The future of the new night train service from Basel to Malmö in Switzerland is uncertain due to funding approval requirements. The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) plans to allocate a reduced budget of 60 million Swiss francs for this project, with around 47 million francs earmarked for the Basel to Malmö route.
Critics, including MP Thomas Hurter from the Swiss People's Party, argue that the subsidy of approximately 30,000 Swiss francs per train journey until 2030 is a waste of public funds. They believe that the funds could be better spent maintaining existing infrastructure instead.
The primary costs driving these subsidies are the expensive rolling stock, personnel wages, cleaning, and stabling of sleeper and couchette cars. Studies indicate that about 45% of the costs relate to rolling stock, with personnel and cleaning each contributing about 14%. This results in an operating cost per journey estimated between 40,000 to 60,000 euros (roughly equivalent to 30,000 Swiss francs subsidy per journey).
Despite the night train aiming to reduce carbon emissions by providing a lower-carbon alternative for international travel, these economic concerns make the funding politically contentious. It is not yet certain whether the money for the new night train service from Basel to Malmö will actually be paid out, as the funding approval is subject to Switzerland’s parliamentary budget debate each December.
In other rail-related news, the Parliament has allocated 30 million francs per year for international rail connections over the next six years. However, the first instalment for the current year was lowered to 10 million francs. Switzerland's government also plans to expand international rail routes, with the summer train to Genoa now running to La Spezia.
Starting in April 2026, three night trains per week should run between Basel and Malmö, via Copenhagen. A direct train from Lausanne (via Geneva) will run to Marseille seasonally, from April to October, between Thursdays and Mondays. The direct connection to Bologna will be extended to Florence.
Sabrina Schellenberg, a spokesperson for the national railway company SBB, mentioned the allocation of funds for the Basel to Malmö route. However, Thomas Hurter, the critic from the Swiss People's Party, continues to believe that the money would be better used for existing routes.
Switzerland is also considering a direct connection to the UK. The Parliament must approve the funding for the new night train service from Basel to Malmö every December as part of the federal budget debate, adding further uncertainty to the project's financial future.
- The financial concerns surrounding the night train service from Basel to Malmö, such as the high operating costs related to rolling stock, personnel, and cleaning, have led to criticism from figures like MP Thomas Hurter, who argue that these funds could be better spent maintaining existing infrastructure within the industry.
- Despite the potential benefits of the night train service in terms of reducing carbon emissions and expanding international business relationships through transportation, the funding for this project remains politically contentious within the finance sector due to economic concerns and the ongoing budget debates in Switzerland's parliament.
