Ostschweizer Cantons Criticize Cuts to Railway Expansion
Published: Wednesday, Oct 4th 2023, 09:15
Mise à jour le : Vendredi, 13 octobre 2023, 14:12
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The cantons of Eastern Switzerland have criticized the absence of important railway projects in the latest expansion program of the Federal Council on Wednesday. Projects that had already been approved by Parliament had been cut. They are calling for a revision. The Eastern Swiss Government Conference (ORK) has criticized a current proposal from the Swiss Federal Council on the status of railway infrastructure expansion programs. The cantons have expressed their disappointment that the expansion of the railway line between Winterthur and St. Gallen, which was already approved by the parliament, has not yet been implemented. This expansion would increase performance and speed up travel times. The Swiss Federal Council has decided not to make any pre-investments for a potential Meilibachtunnel as part of the ongoing Zimmerberg-Basistunnel expansion project. This decision is "not understandable". The governments of Eastern Switzerland do not accept the strong disadvantage they have been facing. They demand that the funds for these projects be reinstated and that further projects such as the double-track expansion of Tiefenwinkel on the Zurich-Chur axis be implemented. These investments fulfilled the goals of the Federal Government's "Perspective Bahn 2050" for spatial planning and climate protection, according to the statement. The remaining projects should now be taken into account "as part of the political process".
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