New SBB plant in Ticino will not go into operation until the end of 2027
Published: Tuesday, Jan 16th 2024, 12:01
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The start of construction of the new SBB plant in Arbedo-Castione TI has been delayed by six months. SBB has announced that the plant will not be able to commence operations until the end of 2027 instead of 2026 as originally planned.
Since mid-November, SBB has been working on optimizing the "New Railway Industrial Facility" (NSIF) project in Arbedo-Castione in order to reduce the sharp rise in costs following the tenders. The start of construction, originally planned for the end of 2023, is expected to take place in mid-2024.
On November 15, the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) issued the planning approval decision for the new industrial railway facility in Arbedo-Castione. According to a press release, SBB used the 30-day objection period against the FOT's decision to reduce the costs for the new facility, among other things. Following the receipt of the offers, these turned out to be significantly higher than the originally planned CHF 580 million.
Battle for old industrial plant
In Arbedo-Castione, the railroad company intends to carry out maintenance work on trains with around 360 employees and 80 apprentices. The new industrial plant will replace the old one in Bellinzona, which, according to SBB, no longer meets the requirements for rolling stock maintenance.
A total area of around 150,000 square meters is required for the project, of which around 88,000 square meters is accounted for by the crop rotation areas, which SBB must compensate for in full.
The plans for the new SBB plant caused an uproar in the southern canton. A popular initiative aimed to save the old workshops in Bellinzona, but was rejected in spring 2019 with 65.3 percent of votes against.
The submission of the petition for a referendum in 2010 was preceded by a strike lasting several weeks against the closure of the SBB workshops in Bellinzona. This caused a nationwide sensation.
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