In Basel, the Elsässerbahn is being expanded for rail freight transport

Freight trains with saddle trailers of four meters corner height are also expected to reach Basel via France in the future. The goal is to shift additional freight transport from road to rail. The federal government has therefore commissioned the SBB to adjust the profile of the route between Basel St. Johann and Basel SBB. The project dossier will be publicly available in Basel from May 8, 2024, for 30 days.

(Basel) In June 2020, the parliament tasked the federal council with concluding the relevant state contracts. The aim is to shift additional freight transport from road to rail. The disruption of the route in 2017 in Rastatt, Germany, has also shown how valuable it is for the economy to have multiple efficient routes available on important transport corridors.

Profile adjustment of the Elsässerbahn will be publicly available in May

The federal government has therefore instructed the SBB to adjust the profile of the section between Basel SBB station and the national border with France for the higher freight trains. A further important milestone for this 114 million Swiss franc project is now approaching: The project dossier will be publicly accessible in Basel from May 8 for 30 days. The public display is part of the approval process according to the Railway Act, known as the planning approval procedure.

Work is expected to start in the second half of 2025 and be completed by the end of 2029. When the higher freight cars can operate regularly on the specified section will also depend on the completion of construction measures on the French side.

The railway connection with France is being expanded for rail freight transport in the heart of Basel

Track lowering in tunnels and under road overpasses

The project includes profile adjustments on the 4.2-kilometer section between the north portal of the Kannenfeld tunnel and the Birsig. The plan is to lower the tracks in the two tunnels, Kannenfeld and Schützenmatt, and adjust the overhead line accordingly. The same is necessary under the two road overpasses, Allschwilerstrasse and Oberwilerstrasse. The track lowering will start before the tunnel portals and overpasses, on open track. This way, the tracks can be ramped down to the lower level in and under the structures.

Safe and reliable for the next 50 years

Everywhere there are track lowerings, the numerous utility and stream crossings that run under the railway line must also be adjusted. For synergy reasons, it is also planned to renew the rails, sleepers, and ballast of the two tracks between the Kannenfeld tunnel and the Birsig bridges – even where no track lowering is required. Furthermore, the SBB aims to renovate the Birsig bridges near the Basel Zoo as part of the project. The goal is for trains to be able to safely and reliably use the bridges for at least another 50 years.

Photo: © SBB