Freight trains should be able to begin using the Gotthard Base Tunnel on Wednesday, Aug. 23, Swiss national rail operator SBB said Friday in its latest update on repairs following an Aug. 10 derailment inside the world’s longest rail tunnel.
Thirty cars of a northbound freight train derailed because of a broken wheel, causing damage that is expected to take months to repair [see “Gotthard Base Tunnel repairs will extend into 2024,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 16, 2023].
The damaged lane-change gate, needed to separate the two tubes of the tunnel in case of an emergency, has been placed by a temporary mobile gate. Signal adjustments and test trips are still required before freight service can begin through the undamaged east tube of the 57.1-kilometer (35.5-mile) tunnel.
Once opened, the tunnel will be able to handle about 90 freight trains per day; another 20 will continue to be rerouted via the panoramic Gotthard Pass route. Initial movements will be of those trains that have been parked in Switzerland and elsewhere that cannot use the panoramic route due to clearance restrictions. Some trains will also continue to be rerouted via the Lötschberg and Brenner routes. Exact plans are still being developed.
With the opening of the tunnel for freight traffic, more passenger service is expected to be available as of Aug. 24, including more direct trains to Italy, which will save travelers the hour currently required on most routes for a change of trains. Online timetables are being updated frequently to reflect the latest conditions; an FAQ for travelers (available in German, French, or Italian) is available here.
Reference railroad service à la Swiss.
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