Southern link to Ports of Switzerland now open
Schweizer Rheinhäfen (Port of Switzerland) has gained another rail link to complement its intermodal network. After seven years of planning, approval procedures and construction, the new southern link of the railway company Hafenbahn Schweiz is now operative.
CHF 35 million were invested into the building of this Muttenz-Auhafen connection, which was completed in time and within budget, as Hans-Peter Hadorn, CEO of Port of Switzerland, the parent company of Hafenbahn Schweiz, announced at the opening ceremony.
Project manager Florian Röthlingshöfer described in detail the scale of the efforts to build the almost 900 m long rail track with a 210 m tunnel. Thanks to a tub construction, the tunnel will have no negative impact on the surrounding nature and water protection areas. More than 150,000 cbm earth were moved and 17,000 cbm concrete were processed.
The completion of the circular rail link between the Hafenbahn and the ports in the southern part of Basel was also welcomed by Guido Zimmermann, manager of the chemical & life sciences park Getec in Muttenz. He emphasised the importance of the new facility and its connection with the marshalling yard as a major link on the European north-south transport axis. The expansion of the intermodal infrastructure offers more options for international shippers. (cd)