High Speed Rail Switzerland – Fastest Tracks, And Rail Network
High speed rail Switzerland system is marked by two major lines and three new base tunnels that enhance connectivity across the country. The centerpiece is the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel, stretching 57 kilometers (35 mi) beneath the Swiss Alps. Designed to support fastest trains speed of up to 250 km/h (155 mph), the Gotthard, along with the Scenic Base Tunnel, has a maximum speed of 230 km/h (145 mph) to balance environmental concerns and economic efficiency.
Works at a slightly slower speed. These tunnels not only improve travel times across challenging terrain but also facilitate smoother, more efficient freight transport, making Switzerland an important transit hub within Europe. In Switzerland’s high speed rail system, passenger trains typically run at a speed of 200 km/h (125 mph) to keep up with the significant volume of freight traffic passing through the same tunnels.
This balance of speeds supports efficient passenger services without compromising the punctuality and safety of cargo transport. However, in cases where delays need to be met, passenger trains are temporarily allowed to reach a speed of 230 km/h (145 mph). This flexibility helps maintain the overall reliability of the network and ensures that passenger and freight schedules are as consistent and timely as possible across Switzerland’s complex rail infrastructure.
History of High Speed Rail Switzerland
Switzerland launched the Rail 2000 and New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA) projects to address congestion challenges posed by transalpine freight and passenger traffic on its road and rail networks. Rail 2000 focused on modernizing and expanding rail infrastructure to increase national connectivity and efficiency, while the NRLA introduced a series of new tunnels to streamline the north-south transalpine routes, including the Gotthard base. Includes tunnel. Together, these projects aim to improve transport capacity, reduce travel times, and shift more freight from road to rail, furthering Switzerland’s commitment to sustainable and efficient transit through the Alps.
Rail 2000
Completed in 2005, the first phase of Switzerland’s Rail 2000 project significantly expanded the national rail network, notably the new high speed rail track between Bern and Oulton. The line operates at speeds of up to 200 km/h (125 mph), improving connectivity between key urban centers and reducing travel times.
The upgrade marks an important milestone for Swiss Rail, boosting efficiency and supporting the country’s goal of providing reliable options for high speed rail Switzerland as a viable alternative to road travel. This phase laid the foundation for subsequent phases aimed at further modernizing Switzerland’s transit infrastructure.
The ongoing second phase of Switzerland’s Rail 2000 project focuses on further expanding high speed rail Switzerland capacity, with key upgrades planned for the line between Wallis-Canton and Biel and Solothurn. Both segments are designed to support operating speeds of up to 200 km/h (125 mph), improving travel efficiency and connecting terrain seamlessly. The upgrades are part of Switzerland’s wider commitment to modernize its rail network, ensuring that it continues to serve passengers while promoting rail as an environmentally sustainable alternative to road transport. Can handle the growing demand.
NRLA Project
The New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA), known as NEAT in German, is an ambitious infrastructure project in Switzerland designed to create faster north-south rail links through the Alps. The project consists of three large base tunnels built several hundred meters below the old mountain tunnels: the 57 km Gotthard Base Tunnel, the 35 km Lushberg Base Tunnel, and the 15 km Senneri Base Tunnel.
These tunnels reduce travel time and increase the capacity of passenger and freight trains by bypassing the steep mountain passes. Another component, the Zimmerberg Base Tunnel, completed its first phase in 2003, allowing speeds of 160 km/h (100 mph), while Phase II is still in the planning stages. The NRLA stands as a key development in European rail transport with high speed trains in Europe, enhancing Swiss connectivity and reducing Alpine transit bottlenecks.
The NRLA project aims to create high speed north-south railway routes across the Swiss Alps by tunneling deep foundations several hundred meters below the old mountain tunnels. This ambitious effort led to the opening of the 35 km long Lötschberg base tunnel in 2007, where the new Pendolino trains run, increasing both speed and efficiency. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, spanning 57 km, opened on 1 June 2016 and is the longest railway tunnel in the world. The project continued with the 15 km Scenic Base Tunnel, which opened on 4 September 2020, further streamlining Alpine Rail travel for both passengers and freight.
Despite the progress of the NRLA project with tunnels such as the Seinery, Gotthard, and Zimmerberg base tunnels, the limited speed of connecting rail lines limits the full capacity of services, especially on the Zurich-Milan route. These slow-line sections reduce the capacity and efficiency of rail traffic, as mixed speeds on shared tracks disrupt smooth flow and limit frequency. For these high capacity routes to effectively meet growing demand, increases will be necessary to increase speeds on connecting lines, maximizing the benefits of Switzerland’s impressive Alpine tunnel network.
Rolling Stock
SBB RABe 501, affectionately known as Giruno, is Switzerland’s fastest train, operated by the Swiss Federal Railways since May 2016. Designed for high speed cruising, the Giruno can reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) in Italian. Track, although its speed is limited to 200 km/h (125 mph) within Switzerland’s rail network.
This modern train not only enhances passenger comfort and efficiency but also represents a significant advance in Swiss rail technology. Facilitates faster connectivity across national borders and supports the country’s commitment to strong public transport.
French-Swiss cooperation on the TGV Lyria and German ICE lines enhances international rail connectivity in Switzerland. ICE 4, which operates regularly on Swiss routes, reaches speeds of up to 200 km/h (125 mph) between Oulton and Bern, providing efficient passenger service. In contrast, the TGV Lyria, while an integral part of the network of high speed rail Switzerland, is limited to a maximum speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) on its routes within Switzerland, essentially Due to the absence of dedicated high rail. Speed track between Basel and Zurich.
This limitation emphasizes the need for further infrastructure development to take full advantage of high speed rail capabilities and improve travel times for international passengers.
The former Cisalpino consortium, a collaboration between the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Trenitalia, previously operated Pendolino tilting trains on two main international routes connecting Switzerland and high speed rail Italy, Switzerland and other parts of Europe like Sweden. After the dissolution of the consortium, responsibility for these services passed entirely to SBB and Trenitalia, which continue to use Pendolino trains on these lines. These tilting trains are designed to navigate curves at high speeds, enhancing travel efficiency and passenger comfort. Their continued operation reflects the commitment to maintain strong rail links between the two countries, ensuring a seamless travel experience for passengers and tourists alike.
Network of High Speed Rail Switzerland
Switzerland is a mountainous country and travelers feel speed of train more than usual due to moving sceneries and tunnels around them. So a train speed test could help to measure the speed of the train with a speedometer online on “Fastest Trains website”
|
Line |
Max speed |
Operating speed (max) |
|---|---|---|
|
Mattstetten-Rothrist new line |
200 km/h (125 mph) |
200 km/h (125 mph) |
|
|
Per section:200 km/h (125 mph)or 140 km/h (87 mph) |
Per section:200 km/h (125 mph)or 140 km/h (87 mph) |
|
Lotschberg Base Tunnel |
250 km/h (155 mph) |
200 km/h (125 mph) |
|
|
Technical:250 km/h (155 mph)Authorized:230 km/h (145 mph) |
Normal:200 km/h (125 mph)If delay:230 km/h (145 mph) |
|
Technical:250 km/h (155 mph)Authorized:230 km/h (145 mph) |
Normal:200 km/h (125 mph)If delay:230 km/h (145 mph) |
Conclusion
High speed rail Switzerland represents a major development in modern transport infrastructure, enhancing connectivity within the country and across borders. The implementation of projects such as Rail 2000 and the New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA) have not only improved journey times and capacity but also facilitated a shift towards more sustainable rail transport. With the introduction of state-of-the-art rolling stock such as the SBB RABe 501 and continued cooperation with international rail services such as the TGV Lyria and ICE, Switzerland is well positioned to meet the growing needs of both passenger and freight transport.
However, challenges remain, particularly in improving speeds on integrated lines to fully exploit the potential of the extensive tunnel network. As Switzerland continues to invest in its rail infrastructure, the future of high speed rail Switzerland looks promising, which reinforces its position as a major transit hub in Europe and supports the country’s commitment to environmentally sustainable travel.