Free passage through Gotthard Base Tunnel massively delayed
Published: Thursday, Nov 2nd 2023, 17:10
Updated At: Friday, Nov 3rd 2023, 00:54
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The damage to the Gotthard Base Tunnel following the derailment of a freight train in August is far more serious than expected: The rail tunnel is therefore not expected to be fully available again for passenger and freight trains until September 2024.
SBB decided to completely renew the affected carriageway over seven kilometers. Repairing the track only in the numerous damaged areas would be tantamount to patchwork, the railroad company announced on Thursday.
The rehabilitation of the entire roadway is the only option that guarantees long-term safety in the tunnel, SBB CEO Vincent Ducrot told the media in Bern. It would take a lot of time. After all, you don't quickly build seven kilometers in a tunnel.
Damage is insured
As a result, the repair work will take much longer than originally anticipated. SBB officials expect that both tubes of the base tunnel will not be fully passable again until September 2024.
Peter Kummer, head of infrastructure at SBB, said there were chances the work could be completed sooner. "But we also see risks that they could take longer," he said.
According to current knowledge, the damage amounts to around 100 to 130 million Swiss francs. The railroad company has insurance for such events, SBB stated. On the question of liability, Ducrot said, "In principle, whoever provides the train driver is liable." But for the time being, he said, the investigation by the Swiss Safety Investigation Authority (Sust) must be awaited.
Difficult conditions
Under logistically and climatically "very demanding conditions," with temperatures above 40 degrees, about 300 meters of the total seven kilometers of damaged roadway are currently being renewed each week, said Peter Kummer, head of infrastructure at SBB. "It's very dusty and dirty," he said. Workers have to take a break in a cool room every 40 minutes, he said.
On the entire line, the rails will be replaced, as well as more than 20,000 sleeper blocks and the concrete layer in which they are cast. As a result of the serious derailment, the type of wheel involved will be checked more frequently, Ducrot said.
No price reduction
The train paths through the Gotthard Base Tunnel during the repair work were distributed "after careful consideration of all needs," SBB states. From the timetable change in December until Easter 2024 for the time being, capacities for freight traffic during the week and for passenger traffic at the weekend are to be increased.
These plans were welcomed by Pro Bahn, the association representing the interests of public transport customers. SBB must now make the remaining train paths in the Gotthard Base Tunnel available to the very busy trains to and from Italy, if possible, said a board member in response to a question.
On Thursday, there were again calls for discounts or special solutions for rail passengers to and from Ticino, for example from the Ticino government and Pro Bahn. However, the SBB managers do not want to temporarily adjust prices because of the restrictions.
Alliance Swiss Pass, the umbrella organization of 250 transport companies and 18 tariff associations in Switzerland, referred to measures that SBB had already announced in August: The General Abonnement (GA) Night for under-25s living in Ticino has been valid since September 10 on Sundays from 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. for travel to German- and French-speaking Switzerland.
There is also a discount for luggage and bicycle transport to Ticino and back until the end of November. Further measures are not planned.
Derailment on August 10
The derailment of the freight train occurred on August 10 in the west tunnel. This was due to a broken wheel on one of the wagons. The driver was not injured.
Freight traffic has been running again through the undamaged east tunnel since August 23. Since the accident, most passenger traffic between German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino has been diverted via the panorama route.
©Keystone/SDA
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