Page 27 - RFC Rhine-Alpine_Annual Report 2016

CORRIDOR RHINE-ALPINE – Annual Report 2016
Investments
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The Swiss sections of RFC Rhine-Alpine have been ready since December 2015 but not connected to the neighbour- ing infrastructure in Germany and Italy. In 2016 a lot of effort was put into the support of the bilateral cross-border projects CH-DE and CH-IT.
The ETCS installation on the cross-border sections is car- ried out in close cooperation with the relevant national safety authorities and IMs. The corresponding works in the node of Basel, on the Domodossola–Iselle/Ranzo– Luino lines and in Chiasso are on schedule. From December 2017 onwards, ETCS BL3 only vehicles can be used on Swiss territory and on cross-border lines.
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ERTMS in Switzerland
Upgrade Lötschberg Base Tunnel
In April 2016 the project development for the extension of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel (LBT) has started. Today only one third of the tunnel is double track. The middle part of the tunnel is prepared but not yet equipped with railway infrastructure. The project study contains the technical equipment of the middle part of the LBT and the upgrade to double track. Following the project realization, all freight trains can be routed through the Base Tunnel. Financing for the implementation of this project has not yet been secured, a decision by the parliament is expected in early 2019.
ETCS in Switzerland