The cooperation between the Swiss Federal Office of Transport BAV and the European Railway Agency (ERA) will be extended for the last time by another year and will now run until the end of 2023. The agreement concerns joint vehicle approvals as well as safety certificates for cross-border services. A further extension is uncertain, as the European Commission (EC) wants to push ahead with the adoption of the 3rd and 4th railway packages of the European Union (EU) in Switzerland. From 2024, therefore, the approval of new vehicles and the issuing of safety certificates will probably require a procedure with the ERA and another with the BAV. In addition, the BAV is planning new agreements with neighbouring countries regarding the operation of border lines, as the current agreement with the EU is not compatible with EU legislation.
