Switzerland’s Alpine Rail Freight Model Faces New Pressures
Switzerland remains a leading example of how freight can move across the Alps by rail. According to DB Cargo, rail carried 68.6% of trans-Alpine freight in 2025. That share is substantial, but it fell from 70.3% in 2024.
The Swiss approach combines long-term transport policy with major infrastructure investment. The Gotthard, Lötschberg and Ceneri base tunnels provide lower-gradient routes through the mountains, making it easier to run heavier freight trains. On the Gotthard axis, a corridor adapted for four-metre-high semi-trailers also supports combined road–rail transport.
Infrastructure alone does not guarantee continued growth, however. Construction works, economic conditions and capacity on connecting lines outside Switzerland all affect the performance of this international corridor.
For European shippers, Switzerland illustrates both the potential and the limits of shifting freight from road to rail: reliable cross-border transport depends on coordinated policy, protected train capacity and infrastructure that works across national borders.
Image source: dbcargo.com
