In a pre-dawn announcement on 10 December, the Federal Office of Transport confirmed that SBB Cargo will receive CHF 260 million in transitional subsidies for 2026–2029 to maintain Switzerland’s single-wagonload (SWL) network. The award follows a competitive tender that saw SBB Cargo emerge as the sole bidder for nationwide coverage.
SWL allows manufacturers to send individual rail wagons instead of full trainloads, crucial for Switzerland’s chemicals, metals and FMCG sectors whose plants are scattered across cantons. Yet the service has run structural deficits as road haulage erodes volumes and labour, energy and track-access costs climb.
Logistics professionals who need to visit Switzerland to audit suppliers or negotiate freight contracts can simplify their travel paperwork through VisaHQ. The platform provides end-to-end assistance with Swiss visa applications and related entry documents, helping business travelers secure approvals quickly and stay compliant; learn more at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/.
![Swiss Government Grants CHF 260 Million to Keep Single-Wagon Freight Rolling Until 2029]()
Under the new public-service contract SBB Cargo must trim losses each year, cooperate with regional short-line operators, and digitalise wagon tracking to boost reliability. Performance indicators—punctuality, availability of last-mile ‘first-mile’ links, and CO₂ savings versus trucking—will be audited annually. Failure to hit set milestones could trigger claw-backs.
For corporate supply-chain managers the deal offers at least four more years of network stability. Companies shipping hazardous goods enjoy rail’s safety advantage through densely populated Alpine valleys, while exporters gain seamless links to the north-south freight corridors through the Gotthard and Lötschberg base tunnels.
However, the subsidy is explicitly time-limited. Officials want SBB Cargo to reach break-even by 2030 through higher wagon utilisation, dynamic pricing and automation such as remote-controlled shunting. Multinationals relying on SWL should therefore develop fallback road or intermodal options in case support tapers off after 2029.
SWL allows manufacturers to send individual rail wagons instead of full trainloads, crucial for Switzerland’s chemicals, metals and FMCG sectors whose plants are scattered across cantons. Yet the service has run structural deficits as road haulage erodes volumes and labour, energy and track-access costs climb.
Logistics professionals who need to visit Switzerland to audit suppliers or negotiate freight contracts can simplify their travel paperwork through VisaHQ. The platform provides end-to-end assistance with Swiss visa applications and related entry documents, helping business travelers secure approvals quickly and stay compliant; learn more at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/.
Under the new public-service contract SBB Cargo must trim losses each year, cooperate with regional short-line operators, and digitalise wagon tracking to boost reliability. Performance indicators—punctuality, availability of last-mile ‘first-mile’ links, and CO₂ savings versus trucking—will be audited annually. Failure to hit set milestones could trigger claw-backs.
For corporate supply-chain managers the deal offers at least four more years of network stability. Companies shipping hazardous goods enjoy rail’s safety advantage through densely populated Alpine valleys, while exporters gain seamless links to the north-south freight corridors through the Gotthard and Lötschberg base tunnels.
However, the subsidy is explicitly time-limited. Officials want SBB Cargo to reach break-even by 2030 through higher wagon utilisation, dynamic pricing and automation such as remote-controlled shunting. Multinationals relying on SWL should therefore develop fallback road or intermodal options in case support tapers off after 2029.
