Key Benefits:
Original text
(Status on 17 February 2004)
Preamble
The Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic,
Having regard to the Swiss Federal Order on Alpine Transit 2 4 October 1991,
Having regard to the Swiss Federal Order concerning the construction of the railway line through the Alps 3 , amendments of 20 March 1998,
See art. 24 of the transitional provisions of the Swiss Federal Constitution 4 ,
Having regard to the French Inland Transport Act of 30 December 1982, as amended,
Having regard to the French Law of Guidance for the Development and Development of the Territory of 4 February 1995, as amended,
Having regard to the French law establishing the public establishment 'Réseau ferré de France' for the renewal of rail transport of 13 February 1997,
Having regard to the French national master plan for high-speed rail links adopted on 1 Er April 1992,
Aware that efficient transport infrastructure is the basis for the development and competitiveness of national economies and regions,
Wishing to improve rail links between Switzerland and France and thus create the conditions for increasing rail traffic,
Wishing to facilitate the transport of passengers between, on the one hand, the large agglomerations of Switzerland and, on the other, France,
Wishing to develop the international rail transport of goods,
Recognising the importance of the cooperation of the railway bodies of the two Contracting Parties,
Agreed on the following as part of their competencies:
1. The objective of this Convention is to ensure the optimum connection of the Swiss rail network to the French rail network and, in particular, to high-speed lines. To this end, account will be taken of the financial resources available and the best value for money. Consequently, the Contracting Parties have agreed to put in place coordinated measures relating to railway infrastructure, financing, rational operation of the lines and, in agreement with the railway undertakings concerned, Use of rolling stock.
2. The improvement of the connections of Switzerland to the French network, in particular with regard to high-speed rail links, is carried out in a step-by-step process and in modules which may vary according to national priorities in Railway infrastructure. It should, to the extent possible, ensure consistency with the needs expressed at the regional level.
3. A Steering Committee, whose specificities are defined in Art. 7, is responsible for the implementation of enforcement measures as required to achieve the above objectives.
This Convention concerns the improvement of French-Swiss rail links, both in terms of freight traffic and passenger traffic, in particular those provided by high-speed trains between:
In France:
In Switzerland:
To achieve the objective referred to in s. 1, the following measures shall be considered subject to the application of the procedures required by the national law of each party:
| (a) |
Liaison Paris/Lyon-Geneva in the short term: |
Rehabilitation of the Upper Bugey line (Bellegarde-Cluse-Bourg-en-Bresse) allowing the possible use of pendular rolling stock. |
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| Later: |
Other constructions and punctual development to reduce transit times between Geneva and Mâcon. Improvement from the point of view of the operation and/or the infrastructure of the connections between Paris and Geneva in the framework of the realization of the west and south branches of the TGV Rhin-Rhône. Articulation with regional transport. |
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| (b) |
Liaison Paris-Arc Jurassien in the short term: |
Improvement of the power supply between Lausanne/Neuchâtel and Mouchard. Infrastructure for the possible use of pendular rolling stock. |
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| Later: |
Point-of-line arrangements between Dole and Lausanne/Neuchâtel. Improvement of the point of view of the operation and/or the infrastructure of the links between Paris and Switzerland via the Jurassic Arc in the framework of the realization of the western branch of the TGV Rhin-Rhône. Articulation with regional transport. |
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| (c) |
Liaison Paris-Basel in the short term: |
Examination of the conditions for improvement of the services between Paris and Basel-Zurich. |
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| Point improvements in the St-Louis-Basel area. Use of the new line of the TGV Est European. |
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| Later: |
Improvement from the point of view of the operation and/or the infrastructure of the links between Paris and Switzerland via Basel as part of the realisation of the TGV Rhin-Rhône. Articulation with regional transport. |
1. For the implementation of each of the measures provided for under this Convention, a specific financing plan shall be drawn up by the Steering Committee referred to in Art. 7 and approved by the Ministers of Transport of the two States according to their respective powers.
Within this framework, the Contracting Parties will make financial contributions to the work carried out. The allocation of these contributions will be determined taking into account the respective interests of both parties.
2. The measures envisaged in art. 3 shall be implemented in a progressive and concerted manner between the Contracting Parties.
1. Through the measures defined in Art. 3, the parties are committed to making the offer of rail transport on the lines concerned competitive with other modes of transport. The planned performance on each of the routes is shown in Annex 1.
2. The parties agree to take and coordinate, within the framework of their powers, the measures necessary for the development and promotion of transport by rail and combined transport as a means of responding to the Increasing volume of international freight transportation in both countries.
The Contracting Parties undertake to
1. A Steering Committee shall be established to deal with matters relating to the application of this Convention.
2. It shall be composed of representatives designated by the Contracting Parties. The infrastructure managers and the railway undertakings concerned shall participate, as appropriate, in the work of the Steering Committee. Each Contracting Party shall ensure relations with the territorial authorities concerned within its jurisdiction.
The Steering Committee shall meet at least once a year. It shall monitor the implementation of the provisions of this Convention. The Steering Committee shall be competent to amend Annex 1 which is an integral part of this Convention.
4. The Steering Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.
5. Each Contracting Party may request the convening of the Steering Committee if specific circumstances so require.
1. This Convention shall enter into force as soon as the Contracting Parties have notified the completion of their internal procedures required for that purpose.
2. It shall be valid until 31 December 2020 and shall be extended from year to year unless it is denounced in writing by one of the Contracting Parties not later than six months before the expiry of each calendar year.
Done at Geneva on November 5, 1999 in two originals in French.
Re art. 5 Performance
1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to provide an optimum combination of the possibilities for the development of the routes referred to in Art. 2 of the Convention which has maximum benefits in relation to trafficking potentials and transit times.
2. In order to improve the attractiveness of rail mode, the following performance could be envisaged:
Paris-Geneva Liaison
Compared to the current duration of 3 h 35 to connect Paris and Geneva, the best course time on this link could be reduced to about 2 ½ hours.
Liaison Paris-Arc Jurassian
Compared to the current duration of 3 h 45 to connect Paris and Lausanne, the best course time on this link could be reduced to about 3 ¼.
For the Paris-Berne route, the time gained on the joint section between Paris and Frasne would have repercussions on the relationship with Bern.
A possible realization of the complete West branch of the TGV Rhin-Rhône (Dijon-Aisy) would decrease the journey time between Paris and Lausanne/Berne from 10 to 15 extra minutes.
Paris-Basel Liaison
Compared to the current duration of 4 h 50 to link Paris and Basel, the best course time on this link could,
