Billions cross my desk

The Financing Division oversees regional passenger transport, freight transport, and the financing of the railway network.

The Financing Division is headed by Pierre-André Meyrat and comprises the Railway Network, Freight Transport and Passenger Transport Sections. Financing railway infrastructure is the focus of the Railway Network Section, which is responsible for the payments that the Confederation makes for the operation, maintenance and improvement of rail transport installations, and financial controlling. The Section's tasks also include steering and planning the Fund for Largescale Railway Projects (FinöV Fund), which finances projects such as the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA).

The Passenger Transport Section is primarily concerned with ordering and financing regional public passenger transport. In cooperation with the cantons, the Section orders the necessary transport services from the companies licensed for regional passenger transport. The subsidies needed are stipulated in advance for each transport service ordered.

The Freight Transport Section helps the railway companies, through investment contributions and subsidies, to provide attractive freight transport services. This makes a substantial contribution to shifting transalpine freight transport from road to rail, and to continue developing Swiss rail freight.

The Financing Division also issues licences and authorizations for the companies active in public transport, and licences for freight and passenger transport by road. Its specialists also monitor whether the transport companies are using the funds as agreed and deploying them efficiently.