Key facts
Around CHF 6 billion is deposited in the railway infrastructure fund (RIF) every year, coming from federal funds (taxes and levies) and cantonal contributions. These deposits finance both the operation of the infrastructure and the maintenance of its quality (some 4 bn in 2025), as well as its expansion (about 1 bn in 2025). The latest RIF plan approved by the Federal Council in September 2025 envisages long-term negative equity from the end of 2028 onwards, which would be contrary to the law. This is one of the reasons why the Federal Council is redefining the next steps in the expansion of the railway infrastructure as part of the “Transport ’45” project.
Against this backdrop, the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) audited the processes associated with the RIF’s long-term financial planning.