Gotthard Base Tunnel still closed
Bad news for freight traffic in Switzerland: The Gotthard Base Tunnel will remain closed until further notice. Actually, it was planned to open the line for single-track train traffic yesterday, Tuesday, 16 August.
After the derailment of a goods train in the tunnel due to a broken wheel disc last Thursday, the locomotive and the roadworthy freight wagons have since been transported out of the tunnel. However, 16 freight wagons are still at the site of the accident in the tunnel, SBB said.
The clean-up and repair works have turned out to be more complex than expected. Because of the tunnel closure, many goods trains are parked in Switzerland and abroad. Capacities for parking goods trains at the Swiss end of the tunnel are now running out. (ben)