On 05 June 2019 In a joint statement of intent entitled
“Chance Ceneri 2020”, the three railway CEOs from DB (Deutsche Bahn), SBB
(Swiss Federal Railways) and FS Italiane
agreed to join forces to take a quantum leap in European mobility. The goals
are to have quicker and more frequent services for freight and passengers,
improved punctuality and simpler purchase of international tickets.
The cooperation and decision-making processes of the partner
railways must be strengthened, and measures need to be taken regarding network
development, integral timetable planning, international construction-site
coordination, operations and disruption management as well as interoperability.
The statement of intent has been signed because the Ceneri
Base Tunnel (CBT) will be in service from December 2020. The New Rail Link
through the Alps (NRLA) will be complete, providing a flat route through the
Alps based on the construction of the three basis/base tunnels Loetschberg,
Gotthard and Ceneri.
Reducing the transport time for freight services on the
Rhine-Alpine corridor between Genoa and Rotterdam by up to two hours is one of
the more ambitious goals of “Chance Ceneri 2020”. This will reduce costs for
customers, and which boosts rail freight’s ability to compete with road
transport. Shorter travel times will also take the pressure off rail hubs.
The Ceneri Base Tunnel will create additional capacity for
more than 3,000 semi-trailers per day and therefore promote the shift from road
to rail.
In international passenger services, the travel time between
Zurich and Milan of 3 hours and 30 minutes is to be shortened to around 3 hours
in the 2021 timetable. The service will be increased from 8 to 10 trains per
day and direction. New direct connections to Genoa and Bologna are also being
looked at.
The Ceneri Base Tunnel also heralds a new dimension in
public transport within Switzerland. In Ticino, a complete “Metrò Ticino”
system will double rail services. Thanks to a new direct Lugano–Locarno
connection, travel time will be cut in half.
The completion of the NRLA will be the next milestone for
the Rhine-Alpine corridor from Rotterdam and Antwerp to Genoa.
For further information please visit https://company.sbb.ch and http://www.fsnews.it/. 23/19.
Additional links:
https://company.sbb.ch/en/media/media-relations/press-releases/detail.html/2019/6/0506-2
http://www.fsnews.it/fsn/Gruppo-FS-Italiane/Opportunita-Ceneri-2020-FS-Italiane-DB-FFS-dichiarazione-di-intenti
