SWITZERLAND: The Federal Council has adopted the key parameters for the development of its Verkehr ’45 strategy which is intended to identify projects for the targeted and co-ordinated development of rail, road and urban transport infrastructure through to 2045.
For the first time, the Federal Council wants to bundle infrastructure expansion across all modes of transport in a joint proposal.
Following the decision at a Council meeting on January 28, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy & Communications has been tasked with producing a consultation document by the end of June. This is to be based on an expert report prepared by ETH Zürich.
Rail plans
In the rail sector, improvements are planned on the Biel – Lausanne/Genève corridor by 2030, requiring investment projects in the Renens area.
Around SFr3bn is planned to be invested by 2035 to enable the operation of additional services. This includes 15 min intervals between Bern and Zürich and half-hourly services between Bern and Luzern and between Basel and Zürich, as well as half-hourly regional services on the Swiss Plateau. Further measures under consideration include expanded regional services in the Genève and Lausanne areas, increased frequencies between Bellinzona and Locarno and platform extensions to enable the operation of longer trains on the Zürich S-Bahn.
Looking ahead to 2045, the Federal Council intends to implement a number of key projects in line with recommendations developed by ETH Zürich. These include a direct Neuchâtel – La Chaux-de-Fonds line to eliminate the need for reversal at Chambrelien; the expansion of Genève-Cornavin and Basel SBB stations; the second phase of the Zimmerberg Base Tunnel; addition of a fourth track at Zürich Stadelhofen station; the first phase of the Luzern through station; and the 22 km metre-gauge Grimsel Tunnel connecting the Zentralbahn and Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn networks. The cost of these key projects amounts to at least SFr10bn.
The Federal Council plans to submit further key projects with a total value of at least SFr7bn to parliament in 2031. These would include the second phase of the Luzern through station, and the Morges – Perroy project to build a 15 km double-track line including 8 km in tunnel as the first step towards a duplicate main line between Lausanne and Genève.
The consultation document will also identify projects already approved by parliament which should no longer be implemented.
The Herzstück Basel scheme for redevelopment of the Basel rail junction is no longer considered feasible within a reasonable timeframe or at an acceptable cost. An alternative proposal for a cross-city rail link, including an underground station beneath Basel SBB, is now being developed jointly with the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt for submission to parliament in 2031.
