Network access & network usage

Infrastructure managers are legally obliged to grant non-discriminatory access to their rail network to railway undertakings and any third parties entitled to order train paths. As an independent commission, RailCom ensures non-discriminatory network access and settles disputes.

The infrastructure managers and railway undertakings agree on the details of access in a network access agreement. The key components of the agreement are:

The Swiss standard gauge network is currently used by about 40 railway undertakings. For each train, railway undertakings apply for a time and location-specific right to use the rail network, i.e. a train path. A train path is the authorisation to use a specific route of the railway network at defined times with a specific train. The sum of all train path allocations is what makes up the timetable.

RailCom monitors the application of operational management processes and also adherence to the priority rules in standard operation and cases of disruption.