The aim of the Contracting Parties is to ensure the capacity of international rail passenger and freight traffic between Switzerland and the Federal Republic of Germany, in particular on the main access line to the NLFA, namely Karlsruhe-Freiburg-en-Brisgau-Basel, within the framework of their competence and by coordinating the measures applicable to railway infrastructure.

(1) To achieve the objective set out in s. 1, the following measures shall be provided for in accordance with the aim as relating to transalpine traffic subject to the application of the procedures required by the national law of each party.

(2) In the territories of Switzerland and Germany, the capacities of the north access to the NLFA, namely the Karlsruhe-Freiburg-Basel route, shall be progressively increased according to the demand for transport and shall be coordinated between They:

(a)

For Germany:

-

Increasing the capacity of the current double-track line through the installation of modern signalling for the regulation of trains (CIR-ELKE),

-

An increase in the capacity of the current dual-track line by the progressive construction of another double track to eliminate bottlenecks,

-

Four lanes on the entire route between Karlsruhe and Basel, having regard to the full use of the NLFA.

(b)

For Switzerland:

-

Construction of a new line between the Olten and Bern regions (RAIL 2000 project),

-

Construction of a new line across the Jura from the Basel region,

-

Construction of a new double-track bridge on the Rhine to complete the junction railway between the Basel station of Basel and Basel CFF.

(c)

In the long term, a subsequent convention could make it possible to further improve the upper Rhine line by establishing a new crossing on the Rhine in Bad Säckingen.

(3) With this design, the axes

Stuttgart-Zurich and Munich-Zurich

Continue to unload regional freight traffic to the NLFA and serve the eastern and southern parts of Germany.

The Contracting Parties shall work within their competence to ensure that railway companies in both States are implementing measures to integrate their neighbouring networks, in particular with a view to strengthening the Stuttgart-Zurich corridors And Munich-Lindau-Zurich. ¹ Thanks to sloping crates and point improvements of the lines, transit times will be reduced to 2 hours. ¼ between Stuttgart and Zurich and 3 hours. ¼ between Munich and Zurich, with the frequency of trains being appropriate. The concentration of railway tracks between Stuttgart and Munich, respectively, via Ulm, can be considered at a later stage.

(1) The Contracting Parties undertake to

(a)

Strengthen cooperation with a view to harmonising the technical parameters of rail traffic between the two States,

(b)

Take measures to promote the coordinated use of the lines referred to in s. 2, and to

(c)

To ensure that the crossing of the border into direct rail traffic is facilitated in accordance with the legal requirements of each State.

(2) The Contracting Parties undertake to encourage the international cooperation of railway companies.

(1) A Steering Committee shall be established to deal with matters relating to the application of this Convention.

(2) It is composed of representatives of the Federal Department of Transport, Communications and Energy ¹ And the Ministry of Transport of the Federal Republic of Germany. Railway companies specified in s. 3 are consulted where necessary.

(3) The steering committee shall meet at least once a year. It shall also draw up the programme of implementation of the aforementioned measures.

(4) Each Contracting Party may request the convening of the Governing Board if specific circumstances so require.

(1) This Convention shall enter into force as soon as the Contracting Parties have notified each other of the completion of their constitutional procedures required for that purpose.

(2) This Convention shall be valid until 31 December 2020 and shall be continued from year to year unless it is denounced in writing by one of the Contracting Parties not later than three months before the expiration of each calendar year.

Done at Lugano on 6 September 1996 in two originals in the German language.