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Re: Swiss electric trains and economics ?
Author: Commenter
Date: 11-03-2022 - 13:15
Another reason for the excellent Swiss trains is the petroleum taxing situation.
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The petroleum tax varies heavily depending on the product and the use of the product (engine fuel, heating fuel, technical purposes). For instance, the tax per litre is:
(Note that this is in Swiss franc cents. This is almost exactly the same as the US cent.)
73.12 cents ($2.77 per gallon) for unleaded petrol
75.87 cents ($2.87 per gallon) for diesel oil
0.3 cents (1.14 cents per gallon) for extra light heating oil
Tax reductions are provided for engine fuels used in agriculture, forestry, professional fishing, licensed transport companies, and so on.
Importance of the Petroleum Tax
Mineral oil tax - 2018 receipts (in CHF 1,000 ~= USD 1,000) - Appropriation
Mineral oil tax on fuel - 2,743,569 - 45 % to the Federal Treasury, 50 % earmarked for tasks associated with road transport and aviation and 5 % for federal road and agglomeration fund
Mineral oil surtax on fuel - 1,819,366 - 100 % earmarked for tasks associated with road transport and aviation
Mineral oil tax on combustibles - 15,283 - 100 % to the Federal Treasury
In 2018, mineral oil tax generated 6,2 % of federal receipts.
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Now compare that to the US where the federal gas tax is insufficient to pay for federal highway maintenance and must be subsidized from the general fund. In Switzerland the gas tax subsidizes the general fund... and trains. By the way there are over 90 private railways in Switzerland as well as the federal railway. Yes, these are definitely shortlines.
---------------
The petroleum tax varies heavily depending on the product and the use of the product (engine fuel, heating fuel, technical purposes). For instance, the tax per litre is:
(Note that this is in Swiss franc cents. This is almost exactly the same as the US cent.)
73.12 cents ($2.77 per gallon) for unleaded petrol
75.87 cents ($2.87 per gallon) for diesel oil
0.3 cents (1.14 cents per gallon) for extra light heating oil
Tax reductions are provided for engine fuels used in agriculture, forestry, professional fishing, licensed transport companies, and so on.
Importance of the Petroleum Tax
Mineral oil tax - 2018 receipts (in CHF 1,000 ~= USD 1,000) - Appropriation
Mineral oil tax on fuel - 2,743,569 - 45 % to the Federal Treasury, 50 % earmarked for tasks associated with road transport and aviation and 5 % for federal road and agglomeration fund
Mineral oil surtax on fuel - 1,819,366 - 100 % earmarked for tasks associated with road transport and aviation
Mineral oil tax on combustibles - 15,283 - 100 % to the Federal Treasury
In 2018, mineral oil tax generated 6,2 % of federal receipts.
---------
Now compare that to the US where the federal gas tax is insufficient to pay for federal highway maintenance and must be subsidized from the general fund. In Switzerland the gas tax subsidizes the general fund... and trains. By the way there are over 90 private railways in Switzerland as well as the federal railway. Yes, these are definitely shortlines.
