Stiff competition for Basel Gateway Nord?
The decision of the Swiss competition commission WEKO on the controversial multi-million project Gateway Basel Nord (GBN) has met with opposition. After an in-depth examination, WEKO concluded in June 2019 that the project would "eliminate effective competition" among companies offering container handling services. Nevertheless, the commission gave the green light for the project.
WEKO’s former vice president Professor Patrick Krauskopf, who assessed the case on behalf of the Wirtschaftskammer (trade association) Baselland, was surprised: “In view of this conclusion, I don’t understand why WEKO did not at least impose clear modes of conduct on GBN.” With the GBN project, the Swiss Federal Railways SBB and other companies actually intend to double existing cargo handling capacities.
Roman Mayer, chairman of the board of directors at Swissterminal, says: "If GBN is implemented, existing market structures will be washed away. Private companies will go under. And competition will go under, too." Swissterminal, which is directly and existentially affected by the GBN project, has just lodged an appeal against WEKO’s decision with the Swiss federal council.
WEKO recognises one particular advantage of GBN: with its longer rail tracks, it will be able to process 750 m long freight trains as one unit instead of dividing them into two or three parts as is currently the case. However, this improved efficiency alleged by the advocates of GBN is contested by experts in the field. (cd)