Cargo sous Terrain with New Organization into Detailed Planning

Following the enactment of the “Law on Underground Freight Transport,” Cargo sous terrain AG (CST) has today adapted its corporate structure to meet the requirements for the realization of CST. With a streamlined board of directors, secured financing, and an expanded implementation team, CST is well-positioned for the construction approval phase in the coming years.

(Basel) The focus is on initiating the formal planning procedures leading to the approval of the first section Härkingen-Zurich and 10 hubs by the federal government, cantons, and municipalities.

Since the enactment of the “Federal Law on Underground Freight Transport” on August 1, 2022, the legal basis for the realization of CST has been established. This means, at the federal level, the creation of the master plan, which sets the overarching framework conditions, up to the planning approval for construction. This also includes geological explorations of the underground. In parallel to the federal master planning, the cantons will incorporate the route of the tunnels and the locations of the entrances and exits (hubs) into their regional planning in consultation with CST. To this end, CST is continuously expanding its team at the Olten location, particularly in the areas of construction, technology, IT, as well as market and operations. CST is also progressively developing the operational activities already initiated in city logistics.

At today’s shareholders’ meeting in Basel, CST AG implemented a long-planned reorganization that is intended to remain in place until the construction approval is granted. The responsibility is now taken over by the main investors of the current phase: Coop, Credit Suisse, Swiss Post, Helvetia Insurance, K+D Valueinvest, Migros, Mobiliar, Swisscom, Vaudoise Insurance, the Zurich Cantonal Bank, and the European infrastructure developer Meridiam. The overwhelming majority of the shares thus remains in Swiss hands, as stipulated by the legislator.

New Chairman of the Board and Search for a CEO

Marco Rosso from Meridiam is the new chairman of the board, succeeding long-time founding chairman Peter Sutterlüti in this role. The other board members are Rainer Deutschmann, Stefan Kuhn, Stefan Nünlist, Peter Sutterlüti, and Daniel Wiener. All were already part of the previous board, which has thus been reduced from 34 to 7 members (one seat is still vacant). The CST management will also be reorganized and adapted to the operational requirements of the new phase. CST AG is in the process of recruiting a CEO who brings the necessary experience for scaling the company and implementing this exciting project.

Hand in Hand with Further Development

“The transition to the new board goes hand in hand with the further development of the project,” says Peter Sutterlüti, who has been chairman of the board since March 2017 and continues to provide his experience to the committee. “The newly elected board reflects the commitment of the main investors in the planning and construction approval phase of the generational project CST.” The new chairman Marco Rosso states: “I am very pleased that this globally recognized, sustainable project is entering the next development phase. CST will bring an increase in the quality of life for future generations in rural areas and cities.”

Collaboration with the Canton of Basel-Stadt

At the general meeting held at CST’s headquarters in Basel, the Basel-Stadt government president Beat Jans and CST representatives signed a joint declaration that includes close collaboration in the areas of city logistics, area development, and the planned connection of the city and the Rhine port to the CST network. The partners will explore the potentials and possible synergies between the logistics location Basel and CST, as has already been done in other cantons between Geneva and St. Gallen with positive results. “You have demonstrated exactly the pioneering spirit that once made the development and crossing of the Alps possible,” said Beat Jans at the meeting, “the government council of Basel-Stadt now wants to create the conditions so that we can identify and utilize the potentials of CST in city logistics and the upcoming transformations.”

Photo: © CST / Caption: Government President of Basel-Stadt, Beat Jans (right) and Peter Sutterlüti (left) sign the agreement between Basel-Stadt and CST