Baden
Old railway line through the city is being reactivated: Freight trains will soon run here again
With the reopening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, freight traffic in Switzerland is returning to the regular timetable. This also has consequences for the city of Baden.
The route of the national railway line serves the SBB as an alternative route for cargo and passenger traffic.
Image: Alex Spichale
From September 2 to December 13, 2024, the night freight train will run again on the Mellingen–Dättwil–Baden-Oberstadt–Wettingen railway line. “The Meierhof district is particularly affected by this,” the city of Baden announced. The trips take place Monday to Friday at around 11:10 p.m.
This regular freight train connection was originally planned for the entire 2024 timetable year. However, due to the accident in the Gotthard Tunnel in August 2023, the trains could not run. Jana Stachetzki, traffic planner for the city of Baden, explains: “Due to the accident in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, night freight trains on this route have been cancelled since August 2023.”
By the timetable change on December 13, 2024, this freight train will be running again and will contribute to stable freight traffic on the rails. The train, which runs through the city at night, has low-noise freight wagons to minimize noise pollution for residents, the statement continues.
In Baden, almost everyone agrees: the route should be repurposed, for example for a city tram, a cycle path or for buses. However, the SBB will not release the line for this purpose. It serves as an important diversion route to ensure timetable stability during construction work or in the event of capacity bottlenecks. Regular passenger trains have not run on the route for a long time. (pkr)
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