Basel-Malmö night train at risk as subsidies shift to flights

Swiss night train to Malmö faces cancellation over funding cuts

A political row has erupted over the future of Switzerland's Basel-Malmö night train. The Swiss Council of States' Finance Committee has cut funding for the route, putting its April 2023 launch at risk. Franziska Ryser, a National Council member, has slammed the decision, vowing to fight back against what she sees as 'clear discrimination' between rail and air travel.

The overnight train, Euronight 472, was set to receive around 47 million Swiss francs in subsidies by 2030. Without this funding, operation is impossible, according to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The money was originally earmarked for the Basel-Malmö connection from the CO₂ Act, but it will now go toward developing synthetic fuels for aviation instead.

Ryser has called for an air passenger duty to correct the tax imbalance between rail and air travel. She argues that the subsidies for the night train would be money well spent compared to air travel subsidies. However, Jakob Stark, a member of the Council of States, supports defunding the project due to its high costs and the existence of direct flights to Copenhagen. The train's high costs, including rolling stock, track access fees, and staffing, make it unprofitable. The final decision on the night train's funding rests with Parliament in the coming weeks.

The Basel-Malmö night train's future hangs in the balance as Parliament prepares to make a final decision on its funding. While Ryser pushes for an air passenger duty to correct the imbalance between rail and air travel, Stark supports defunding the project due to its high costs. The rivalry between air and rail travel, pitting budget cuts against climate protection, remains a contentious issue.