Update 2, 22:45  Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Years of arguing and debate over the need for the Lake Geneva region to rapidly develop its train service were brought to a close Monday 21 December with a framework agreement signed by the federal and cantonal governments and the CFF rail company. The agreement acknowledges that the Geneva-Lausanne area is one of the fastest-growing in Switzerland and states the intent of the signing parties to develop a rail network and service that match the rapidly changing need for public transport in the area.

Third and possibly fourth rail line planned

The two cantons have agreed to put up CHF312 million in pre-financing for several projects, designed to speed up the project. The 20-year plan, to 2030, will increase the frequency of trains to one every 15 minutes between Lausanne and Geneva. The number of seats will double by 2020. Several congestion points are targeted: Mies in Vaud and Chambésy in Geneva plus the freight passing line between Nyon and Coppet. The three-phase plan calls for the main lines and RER regional system to be improved first, then the third rail line between Renens and Allaman to be built during a second phase, when the system will also be extended in the area west of Geneva. Main train stations will be modernized.

The third phase will involve building a fourth rail line and improving public transport access to Geneva’s airport.

The project is unusual for Switzerland, where federally funded projects are carefully balanced so that rich and poor regions are treated equally. The sharing-out system known as perquisition involves eight wealthier cantons sharing revenue with the rest, and the two cantonal heads who signed Monday noted on RSR radio Monday evening that two of these are French-speaking cantons: Geneva and Vaud, so ensuring a strong transport system that contributes to their financial health is important for the rest of the country.

The agreement was signed by Max Friedli, director of the Federal Transport Office, Andreas Meyer, CEO of the CFF rail company, and the presidents of the cantonal governments (the Conseils d’Etat), Pascal Broulis for Vaud and François Longchamp for Geneva.

Two years ago the federal government and the CFF were still arguing that the region needed to wait its turn, while Vaud and Geneva were arguing that they would seek private funding if necessary to increase rail service.

Background, GenevaLunch and history

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