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After the National Council’s yes, it is clear: the Lötschberg base tunnel will be expanded to double lanes – continuously.
The cantons of Bern and Valais have been waiting for this decision for a long time: the Lötschberg base tunnel will be completely expanded. After the Council of States, the National Council also approved a corresponding loan.
Legend: The two entrances in Frutigen are deceptive: only one tube is accessible throughout. Keystone/Martin Ruetschi
So far, only 14 of the 35 kilometers of tunnel are double-lane. A second tube was excavated along another 14 kilometers, but there are no tracks or overhead lines. Due to the largely single-lane route, there were repeated congestion and bottlenecks.
“Joy reigns” – once again
“A tunnel is only a tunnel if it has two tubes,” says Valais Center National Councilor Philipp Matthias Bregy in the National Council debate and quotes former Federal Councilor Adolf Ogi: “There is joy.”
In 2018, Parliament had already decided to partially expand the tunnel – 900 million francs were approved for this. Four years later, in the summer of 2023, the Federal Council applied to Parliament to fully expand the Lötschberg base tunnel – for a further 640 million.
A tunnel is only a tunnel if it has two tubes.
Full expansion has several advantages over partial expansion. In the case of a partial expansion, the basic route would have to be completely closed for eight months. In addition, the base tunnel, which opened in 2007, must be renovated in 2040, which would mean it would be closed again without a fully developed second tube.
Legend: Total closure of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel can only be avoided with full expansion. Keystone/Jean-Christophe Bott
The full expansion of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel is part of the Federal Council’s long-term strategy “Railway Perspective 2050” and is scheduled to be completed by 2035.
2024-02-26 20:58:08
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