The higher payments to SBB are based on the need for more preventative maintenance and the increasing use of the network - gross tonne-km is expected to increase by 9% during the current agreement period. The opening of Gotthard base tunnel and completion of the fourth phase of the Zürich S-Bahn will stimulate further traffic growth, while the number of railway installations in tunnels will increase by 54%.
SBB is concerned that despite the increase, the new budget could prove insufficient if more investment is needed to improve punctuality or unexpected problems arise. On the other hand, SBB says it will attempt to conduct maintenance more efficiently by having longer possessions.
SBB expects to finalise its infrastructure plans for 2017-2020 by the end of the October. The government will then submit the budget to parliament for final approval.
