Ligerz Tunnel
| Ligerz Tunnel | |
|---|---|
 Model of the future tunnel | |
Interactive map of Ligerz Tunnel | |
| Overview | |
| Line | Jura Foot Line |
| Operation | |
| Opens | December 2029[1] |
| Technical | |
| Length | 2.13 kilometres (1.32 mi)[1] |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
The Ligerz Tunnel (French: Tunnel de Gléresse) is a railway tunnel under construction at the southern foot of the Jura Railway line in Switzerland. The last single-track section of the southern Jura line is to be eliminated by the double-track tunnel. This bottleneck between the service stations at Chavannes (German: Schafis) and Twann (French: Douanne) on the Biel–Neuchâtel route is currently limiting the frequency of rail traffic. The planned costs amount to 431 million Swiss francs ($470M).[1][2]
The tunnel is part of the STEP 2030 project and will enable a continuous half-hourly service on the line, without impacting freight traffic. Initially planned to be completed by 2026,[2] the project was delayed by litigation over the public tender process as well as environmental concerns.[3] As of 2026 it is estimated to be commissioned by the end of 2029.[1]
It will run parallel to the existing road tunnel of Motorway number 5, which forms the Ligerz bypass, and share its evacuation tunnel.[1]
After the commissioning of the new tunnel, the existing single-track railway running on the lake side will be removed. As of December 2024, the Ligerz railway station has been closed and a Postbus line between the village of Ligerz and Twann has been created. This line is extended to La Neuveville during off-peak hours.[4]
In parallel, the Twann station has been modernized between 2022 and 2024, improving accessibility and creating a stop for the bus to Ligerz.[5]
The construction of the Ligerz Tunnel will be financed by the new Railway Infrastructure Fund (RIF), which Swiss voters accepted on February 9, 2014, with the FABI proposal.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Doppelspurausbau zwischen Ligerz und Twann" (in German). SBB. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 Burroughs, David (12 April 2022). "Construction begins on Switzerland's Gléresse tunnel". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ↑ Baumgartner, Sabine (12 September 2023). "Ligerz-Tunnel: Inbetriebnahme erfolgt drei Jahre später" (Press release) (in German). SBB. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Zwei neue PostAuto-Linien in Ligerz, Twann und Plateau de Diesse". PostBus Switzerland (in German). Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Bahnhof Twann" (in German). SBB. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
External links
- SBB project site (in German)