EPFL Master's Thesis wins Prix LITRA 2026 for Transport Research

The Swiss public transport system combines market revenues with public funding to ensure regional accessibility throughout the country. In his Master's thesis entitled “A ”Röstigraben” in Regional Passenger Transport: Analysis of Cost Recovery Ratio Heterogeneity,” Nico Wyss investigated the factors explaining regional differences in the cost recovery ratio of regional passenger transport.

The thesis was completed within EPFL's Master in Management, Technology and Entrepreneurship program and was carried out in collaboration with the Federal Office for Transport (BAV). Prof. Thomas A. Weber served as academic supervisor, while Marie Degrange-Touzin de Martignac provided professional supervision at the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT).

Rather than providing a purely descriptive comparison between regions, the thesis develops a systematic empirical analysis of the underlying causes of observed differences. It combines BAV data with timetable information, geographic data, and demographic and socio-economic indicators to create an integrated analytical database for regional passenger transport. Using quantitative methods, including a Shapley-Shorrocks decomposition and multiple regression models, the study identifies the relative importance of structural, cost and revenue factors in explaining differences in cost recovery. The results show that demand-related factors and differences in revenue generation play a central role, while spatial conditions, network structures and operational characteristics further shape regional outcomes.

Research with practical relevance. The jury of the Prix LITRA recognized the thesis for combining methodological rigor with direct relevance for public transport practice. The work addresses an important question for Switzerland's transport system: how differences in regional conditions influence the financial performance of publicly supported passenger transport services. The analysis establishes an empirical foundation that allows observed differences to be separated into measurable components. By combining heterogeneous data sources into a coherent analytical framework, the thesis provides insights relevant for future discussions on transport planning, financing mechanisms and the efficient use of public resources. The results of the thesis have already attracted attention beyond academia. They were presented to the Financing Division of the Federal Office for Transport and to the Conference of Cantonal Delegates for Public Transport, where they received strong interest from practitioners.

Recognition at LITRA's 90th anniversary. The Prix LITRA 2026 was awarded during the celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of LITRA. Since its foundation in 1936, LITRA has served as an important platform connecting public transport stakeholders, industry, academia and policymakers in Switzerland. The presence of Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter and LITRA President Martin Candinas at the ceremony highlighted the importance of evidence-based analysis and interdisciplinary research for the continued development of Switzerland's transport system.

A contribution to interdisciplinary mobility research. The award illustrates the strength of EPFL's interdisciplinary approach to mobility challenges, combining engineering perspectives, quantitative methods, economics and management science. Nico Wyss's thesis demonstrates how advanced empirical methods can contribute to a deeper understanding of complex public systems and support informed decision-making in transport policy and planning.