by Florian König, maut1.de - August 16th, 2023
The Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland is the longest road tunnel in the Alps with a length of almost 17 kilometres and, next to the Brenner Pass, one of the most important and busiest north-south connections across the Alps to Italy.
The Gotthard tunnel, which can currently be used at no additional cost (a valid vignette for the A2 in Switzerland is sufficient), could soon become subject to tolls in order to better control the flow of traffic and reduce congestion in the summer months:
- The special toll for the Gotthard tunnel could be 20 euros per trip
- The amount of the toll is to be variable and more expensive in the peak season
- Special toll to combat congestion in the Gotthard tunnel
Gotthard tunnel: important north-south link in the Alps
The Gotthard tunnel is mainly used by travellers from southwestern Germany on their way to Italy or southern France and is passed by around six million vehicles every year. It is one of the biggest traffic jams in Switzerland, especially during the peak travel periods of Easter, Whitsun and summer, resulting in slow-moving traffic with congestion for many kilometres.
Swiss traffic planners want to take an example from the congestion charge in London. Since the introduction of a flexible congestion charge in 2013, the volume of traffic and the resulting congestion in the British metropolis has fallen by a good 30 percent. Special tolls on Alpine passes have also long been common practice in some neighbouring countries, such as on the Brenner motorway in Austria and in the Mont Blanc and Fréjus road tunnels in France.
Toll for the Gotthard tunnel could cost 20 euros
Currently, driving through the Gotthard tunnel is included in the annual price of the Swiss vignette. However, some Swiss politicians have plans to charge a variable fee in the form of a special toll for all vehicles that want to go through the tunnel.
Although these are only plans so far, they are considered quite realistic by observers and could find a majority in parliament. The politicians are calling for a flexible pricing system, which means that tunnel tolls would be adjusted according to demand and traffic volume. As a result, holidaymakers would have to pay higher fees during travel periods, whereas the local population would receive concessions.
According to media reports, a fee of the equivalent of about 20 euros per tunnel passage is being discussed. During the high season, the fee would be higher, while it would be lower in the low season in January or November.
Why is a special toll for the Gotthard tunnel being discussed?
The aim of the special toll is to achieve a flexible utilisation of the tunnel and thus to create an incentive for holidaymakers to travel outside peak times, especially at the beginning of holidays or on public holidays. This measure is intended to avoid peak congestion. Another advantage is that it makes switching to the train more attractive. After all, the longest railway tunnel in the world runs under the Gotthard massif.
Special tolls make holidays more expensive
Transport experts are sceptical about the fact that it is precisely during the holiday season that the highest charges are levied to encourage holidaymakers to travel outside peak times or on public holidays. They argue that travellers are not completely free to choose their holiday dates because they are tied to holiday periods and fixed bed changes.
And, no motorist voluntarily stands in a traffic jam, which makes the desired steering effect through the charge seem rather unlikely. De facto, holidays will become significantly more expensive for travellers. Moreover, the "successful" introduction of a special toll could possibly turn into a lucrative model, leading to extra tolls being charged at other tunnels and passes as well.
Finally, there is still the danger that traffic will shift to secondary routes, municipalities and less well-equipped as well as less safe Alpine roads for cost reasons.
The traffic jams at the Gotthard are getting longer and longer
As recent traffic counts have shown, the traffic jams in front of the Gotthard tunnel are getting longer and longer every year. Statistically, the hours of congestion at the north entrance of the Gotthard tunnel have already tripled between 2012 and 2022. In the first four months of 2023, traffic in the congestion before the tunnel entrance already accumulated to 340 hours of waiting time - a new record.
The Swiss Federal Roads Office (Astra) warned of massive traffic jams heading south even before the start of the major summer holidays: "A higher volume of traffic is to be expected this summer than in the record year of 2022.“
