A train path (like a slot in aviation) is the entitlement to operate a specific train (length, weight, profile, speed) on a particular section of the rail network at fixed times.

The Federal Council sets out the principles in the Rail Network Access Ordinance. The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) then formulates prices for the Swiss rail network on this basis.

A list of infrastructure services and prices is published annually. It is jointly prepared by the infrastructure operators (SBB AG, Schweizerische Südostbahn AG (SOB), BLS Netz AG, Port Railways of Switzerland Ltd. (HBSAG)) and is thus valid on these infrastructures.

The charge under Article 9c of the Railways Act (RailA) (the train-path price) is made up of the price for the basic services and the charges for the ancillary services.

Basic service price components.

The base price.

The base price components must cover marginal infrastructure costs. Incentives and product-related factors (such as surcharges for stopping or hazardous goods and a discount for the ETCS train control system) can result in a variable price per train.

The contribution margin.

The contribution margin is specified by the franchising authority and, for franchise holders’ passenger trains, it is calculated as a percentage of sales revenues – currently 13.5 percent for long-distance passenger services and 8 percent for regional passenger services. The revenue-related contribution margin for passenger services makes an important contribution to fixed costs.

The energy price.

The FOT determines the electricity price based on information provided by the infrastructure operator so that all costs are covered. 

What is included in the basic services?

The basic services include:

• train-path use at the quality level specified, including train operating services
• power supply ex catenary
• safe and punctual operations on the open track, at stations passed through and at junctions, including the telecommunication and IT services required for these operations
• for passenger trains, the use of platform space at the departure, intermediate and destination stations and access for passengers to the public areas of these stations
• use of tracks by trains in unchanged formation for freight operations between agreed departure and destination points.

Ancillary services.

The infrastructure operator determines the prices of ancillary services on a non-discriminatory basis, insofar as these can be provided with the existing infrastructure and personnel, and publishes them.

What are ancillary services?

Ancillary services include route setting for shunting runs, shunting in SBB marshalling yards, the stabling of rail vehicles, static water and power supplies, use of the route outside published opening times, etc.

Miscellaneous services.

Network users (railway companies) can also buy miscellaneous services such as training runs for drivers at freely negotiable prices from companies other than the infrastructure operator. This does not come under the general issue of network access.

It depends.

The train-path price is affected by parameters including type of service, choice of route, distance, travel times, number of stops, route and vehicle characteristics, train weight, passenger revenues and technical train parameters (noise, ETCS).

Would you like to calculate the train-path price yourself?

At Calculating prices you can find out for yourself what a train would cost, depending on where and when it goes.

SBB Infrastructure receives CHF 1.2 billion(?)Show note billionSource: IST 2019Close note per year in charges for train path use. This covers 35 percent of the infrastructure costs incurred. The rest is funded from federal resources (60%) and transfer payments from SBB Real Estate (5%). Source: IST 2022

Rail is one of the most efficient and eco-friendly modes of transport. This has led to a consistent increase in rail traffic, resulting in greater levels of noise pollution from loud freight trains. Long-term growth and social acceptance of rail as a mode of transport can only be achieved by drastically cutting down on noise pollution.

To achieve this goal, various European countries provide a noise bonus and are jointly setting up the Silent Wagon Database (SWDB) to simplify the awarding of this bonus. The SWDB is run and fi-nanced by Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.

The bonus programmes have now expired with the exception of Switzerland’s. But the require-ments have been made stricter. Wagons with grey cast iron brake pads have now been largely banned in Germany and Switzerland. Other EU states are doing the same on so-called “quieter routes” from 2024.

Infrastructure operators still consult the SWDB to check whether all freight trains are running with noise-reduced wagons. The Swiss noise bonus is also automatically awarded using the SWDB. All wagon owners must register their low-noise wagons with the SWDB before they enter into use or after conversion prior to the first train run. 

Railway undertakings can also register low-noise wagons, provided they can provide valid evi-dence.

If you manage your wagons in the RSRD ² Rolling Stock Reference Database, you can enable the transfer of your data to the SWDB and the transfer will happen automatically every Wednesday.

The 2017 train path pricing system will now take into account the degree of wear caused by different trains in the form of a “wear factor”. Along with a fairer usage-based calculation of wear costs, the track wear factor is creating new incentives for more careful use of the track as well as reducing the need for structural maintenance in the medium to long term.

In an expert article in the magazine, the authors explain the background of the wear-dependent component in the train path pricing system  in Switzerland.

Speed and radius bands.

Request for speed and radius bands files (via e-mail)Link opens in new window.