HSR-C – Connection to High-Speed Rail Traffic.
The upgrade of the rail network in Eastern and Western Switzerland will enable SBB to connect with European high speed rail traffic (HSR).
Switzerland is located at the heart of Europe and therefore the intersection point for important transport routes. Already today our centres are served by high-speed trains, such as the TGV, ICE and tilting trains, from neighbouring countries.
Due to Switzerland's closely meshed network and the topography of the country it is simply not economical to implement the European standard with speeds of over 230 km/h on the Swiss network and this will not be a topic for discussion in the near future. The high-speed standard for Switzerland lies between 160 and 200 km/h.
An overview of HSR connections.
Copyright of the Federal Office of Transport FOT
The upgrade of the HSR connections will result in the modernisation of the Swiss rail network and optimal connections with the European high-speed network. This will mean a reduction in journey times from Switzerland to the cities of Munich, Ulm, Stuttgart, Paris and Lyon.
– Connections in Eastern Switzerland ((Link to text below))
– Connections to Western Switzerland ((Link to text below))
– Connections abroad
The upgrade for the HSR connections will cost CHF 1.09 billion Swiss and will be financed from the FinöV-funds (cost basis 2003). SBB is carrying out the work on behalf of the Federal Government. HSR-C-page of Federal Office of Transport
HSR-C East
Connections in Eastern Switzerland.
In Eastern Switzerland upgrades are being undertaken for the connection with high-speed rail traffic (HSR-C) in the following corridors:
| Corridor Bulach–Schaffhausen | CHF 130 million | ||
| Corridor Zurich–Winterthur | CHF 100 million | ||
| Corridor St. Gallen–St. Margrethen | CHF 80 million | ||
| Corridor St. Margrethen–Sargans | CHF 70 million | ||
| Corridor St. Gallen–Constance |
CHF 60 million (incl. proportion SOB section) |
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| Total |
CHF 440 million (incl. proportion SOB section) |
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Corridor Bulach–Schaffhausen.
On the line between Bulach and Schaffhausen the double track upgrade Hüntwangen–Wil–Rafz and Jestetten Süd–Fischerhölzlitunnel (excluding the tunnel upgrade) will be realised. In addition, the rail stations Jestetten and Lottstetten will be modernised. This will enable a half-hourly service for the long-distance line between Zurich and Schaffhausen and is the precondition for reducing journey times between Zurich and Stuttgart.
Construction work will last from June 2009 until December 2012 and cost CHF 130 million (cost basis 2003).
Factsheet double track upgrade Hüntwangen–Rafz and Jestetten
Noise reduction Jestetten
Corridor Zurich–Winterthur.
The flyover Hürlistein includes a new bridge structure, which will carry a new track across the airport line. To deal with the height difference an earth dam will be layered on the side going in the direction of Dietlikon, and on the Effretikon side a ramp will be constructed.
In Winterthur an overtaking track for freight traffic will be build in the area of the freight station.
These upgrades will allow Eurocity services between Zurich and Munich to be optimised.
Construction work will last from February 2011 until December 2013 and cost CHF 100 million (cost basis 2003).
Factsheet Flyover Hürlistein
Factsheet Winterthur (Overtaking track)
Corridor St. Gallen–St. Margrethen.
The largest project is the upgrade of the line between St. Fiden and Engwil to a double track.
In additon to this the span SOB will be built, a connecting line of about 300 metres between the new double track St. Fiden–Engwil and the portal of the Bruggwald tunnel of the St. Fiden–Wittenbach line. This construction work will last from September 2008 until autumn 2011.
Adaptations for tilting trains will be made between St. Gallen and St. Margrethen so that the speed on this section can be raised and the double track between Goldach and Rorschach will be extended. This extension will result in continuous double track until just before Rorschach.
To the east of St. Gallen railway station a new track change in the Rosenberg tunnel will be created, the existing points installation will be rebuilt and the length of the platform facilities on track 1, 2 and 3 adapted to take account of this. At Rorschach station as well as the stretch between Rorschach and Staad the run-through speed for tilting trains will be increased. This will require renewal work on the track, points, and overhead lines, in particular the interlocking Staad and Rorschach will be modernised and automated.
As a result of the upgrade of the line St. Gallen–St. Margrethen journey times to Munich (together with the upgrades in Germany) will be reduced by around 40 minutes by the end of 2015.
Construction work will last from 2008 until 2011 and will cost CHF 80 million (cost basis 2003).
Factsheet double track upgrade Engwil–St. Fiden / Span SOB
Factsheet Rorschach–Staad
Adaptations for tilting trains St. Gallen–St. Margrethen
Factsheet Goldach
Factsheet St. Gallen rail station East
Corridor St. Margrethen–Sargans.
At Sargans station and between Neugrüt and Rüthi upgrades of the public and track facilities will be undertaken. The station at Au (SG) will be extended to become a crossing station so that S-Bahn trains can cross with the Rheintalexpress (REX) at Au station.
The extensions will permit the line speed between Sargans und St. Margrethen to be raised to a maximum of 160 km/h.
This will improve the connections in Sargans from/to Zurich and reduce journey times.
Work in Altstätten is complete. In Sargans work started at the beginning of 2010; in Neugrüt–Rüthi and Au it will start in 2011. The extensions will be finished in 2013 and will cost CHF 70 million (cost basis 2003).
Factsheet Sargans
Factsheet Neugrüt–Rüthi
Factsheet Au
Factsheet Altstätten
Corridor St. Gallen–Constance.
A number of different upgrades are being undertaken on the line between Romanshorn and Kreuzlingen Hafen: in Romanshorn two fast track changes are needed that enable parallel journeys in Romanshorn South. In Uttwil and Altnau stations smaller adaptations for train crossings are needed. In Kreuzlingen Hafen an outer platform is being built connected by a pedestrian subway.
In additon, the span SOB will be built, a connecting line of around 300 metres between the new double track St. Finden–Engwil and the portal of the Bruggwald tunnel of the line St. Fiden–Wittenbach. Further HSR upgrades that are necessary on the line St. Gallen St. Fiden–Romanshorn are being carried out under the supervision of the Südostbahn (SOB).
As a result of the upgrades the regional centres St. Gallen and Kreuzlingen/Constance will be more directly and quickly connected. Furthermore, improved connections in Constance to and from Singen and Stuttgart will be possible.
Construction work will take place from May 2009 until autumn 2012 (Span SOB) as well as from 2013 to 2015 (upgrades Romanshorn–Kreuzlingen Hafen) and will cost CHF 60 million (cost basis 2003).
Factsheet Romanshorn–Kreuzlingen Hafen
Factsheet double track upgrade Engwil–St. Fiden / Span SOB
HSR-C West
Connections in Western Switzerland.
In the French Haut-Bugey the regional line in the vicinity of the TGV line Lyon–Paris will be modernised. Considerable time gains can be made here for relatively modest costs. A reduction in the distance of around 50 kilometres would mean that the journey time between Geneva and Paris would fall by 25 minutes to three hours.
