The damage to the Gotthard Base Tunnel after the train accident in August is more serious than previously thought. Therefore, according to the Swiss Federal Railways, the repair work will probably be delayed until September 2024.
The construction work on the Gotthard Base Tunnel after a train derailed will probably take longer than previously planned. As the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) announced, they do not expect the longest railway tunnel in the world to be fully operational again until September 2024.
After the train accident in August, the SBB announced several months of work. Now it was said: “The damage in the tunnel is much more serious than it initially appeared.
Renewal of the track system over seven kilometers
In the 57-kilometer-long tunnel, seven kilometers of the track system must be renewed. According to SBB, around 20,000 sleeper blocks, two switches and many safety-relevant parts of the system need to be replaced.
Despite the repair work, freight trains and individual passenger trains have been running again since the end of September through the undamaged tube of the tunnel, which is located on one of the most important north-south axes between Germany and Italy. According to SBB, even more trains will run through from December 10th. However, full capacity is not expected to be reached again until next September.