Gateway Basel Nord slows down
The multimodal terminal project Gateway Basel Nord in Basel (Switzerland) is facing another hurdle, which is likely to cause delays. With its decision of 21 January 2020, Switzerland’s federal supreme court approved an appeal made by Swissterminal, a local private terminal operator, and ruled that Port of Switzerland, the operator of the Swiss inland ports on the River Rhine, had infringed on the operator’s rights.
In connection with plans to build the Gateway Basel Nord, a controversial mega-project, Port of Switzerland decided not to issue public invitations to tender. At the same time, it refused Swissterminal‘s request to deliver an appealable decree concerning its waiver of public tenders.
Swissterminal currently also operates in the Rhine port in Kleinhüningen and will lose this location in 2029, following Port of Switzerland’s cancellation of the contract. Swissterminal lodged a complaint.
In a ruling of 20 February 2019, the cantonal court of Basel-Landschaft had supported Port of Switzerland and rejected Swissterminal’s complaint. Then Swissterminal appealed to the Swiss federal supreme court. (mw)
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