Keystone
The National Council wants to spend CHF 16.4 billion on rail infrastructure between 2025 and 2028. It followed the Federal Council in discussing the matter on Monday. It rejected a proposal to increase the amount by CHF 500 million.
In the overall vote, the National Council adopted the federal decree by 192 votes to 3 with no abstentions. The matter will now go to the Council of States.
Compared to the current period, the Federal Council’s dispatch provides for an increase of around two billion francs.
A minority of the National Council’s Transport Committee, made up of representatives from the Center Party, SP and Greens, wanted to increase the amount by CHF 500 million. In particular, they argued that there was a risk of delays in the implementation of barrier-free access to railroad stations. However, the corresponding motion was rejected by 105 votes to 88 with two abstentions.
An SVP minority in the preliminary consultation committee originally wanted to cancel the planned operating payments to infrastructure managers. This would have meant a reduction of CHF 2.6 billion. The proposal was withdrawn during the debate.
SDA