Ceneri base tunnel to go on stream
After almost 30 years, the 15.4 km long and CHF 3.6 billion Ceneri base tunnel (CBT) in the Swiss canton of Ticino will be officially opened for regular traffic on Sunday, 13 December 2020.
This day marks the completion of the project of the century, the NLFA (new rail link across the Alps) and finalises a flat rail route for railfreight across the Alps from Altdorf to Lugano.
In addition to the Ceneri tunnel, the new 4 m corridor for the transport of semi trailers on the route Basel-Chiasso or Basel-Luino, respectively, has also been completed on time for the change of timetable in 2020.
The new infrastructures bring vital improvements for railfreight, offering 210 rail routes per day and thus cutting about two hours off travel times from Rotterdam (the Netherlands) to Milan (Italy).
Furthermore, the new service will accommodate 750 m long freight trains weighing up to 2,150 t on the southbound route and up to 2,000 t on the northbound route. (ben)