Developing rail infrastructure between now and 2035 will cost more than expected. To the 16.5 billion francs already approved could be added up to 14 billion francs, according to the Confederation. For Ouestrail, the future of rail in French-speaking Switzerland is “threatened”.
As it stands, the costs of the “consolidation” amount to 8.5 billion francs for various major extensions, such as station transformations, new tracks and garage installations, the Office said on Thursday. Federal Transport Agency (OFT).
Added to this are additional costs for projects already decided, such as the Brütten tunnel, on the Zurich-Winterthur line. Additional investments are also necessary, in particular for the safe operation of several stations or with a view to future increases in the number of users.
Increased cadence
These measures are necessary to enable the sustainable and stable implementation of the 2035 offer project (PO 2035), specifies the OFT in a press release published on its website. This project provides for a significant jump in service with new quarter-hourly or half-hourly speeds on around 60 lines and an increase of around 20% in the number of seats.
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For the transport of goods, an express network throughout Switzerland is provided in particular for urgent deliveries, such as those of parcels or foodstuffs. All this is necessary to be able to cope with the growing demand for mobility and transport.
In 2019, the Federal Chambers approved an envelope of 12.9 billion francs for the 2035 development stage. This amount was increased by 3.5 billion at the beginning of this year.
“Much more complex”
The work of experts from the OFT and the CFF shows that the project is “significantly more complex than imagined until now”, explains the office. Further extensions of the railway network are required throughout Switzerland, for example additional tracks, adaptations of sections and new garage facilities.
The revised concept must now be reviewed internally and externally. It will also be a question of studying possible cost reductions, underlines the OFT.
The financing of these amounts through the Rail Infrastructure Fund (FIF) is not currently assured, especially since the law gives priority to financing the maintenance of the quality of the network. In addition, six new major projects beyond the scope of the 2035 offer project must also be examined for the next development stage, including that concerning the Lausanne-Berne line.
Subject covered in the 12:30 p.m. on RTS-La Première
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