Key facts
The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) looked at the issue of transshipment terminals or hubs, the cornerstone of combined transport. The Confederation actively promotes the development of combined transport as part of its road-to-rail policy, which has offered investment aid since 1986 for the construction or expansion of terminals. This measure aims at improving the competitiveness of rail freight transport as opposed to road and meeting the objectives of intermodal transfer. Financial aid is awarded to the terminal’s owner or operator in the form of interest-free loans or non-repayable subsidies. Either way, the applicants are required to finance at least 20% of the projects with their own means. The facility in question may be located in another country provided that all or some of the traffic transits through Switzerland.