The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) has granted planning approval for the construction of additional infrastructure between Zurich and Winterthur. As the current Zurich - Winterthur line via Effretikon is overloaded, a second line will be built, making the corridor fully four-tracked.

The centerpiece of the new line is the Brütten Tunnel, approximately 9 km long, with two separate tubes and 20 cross-passages, and its two connecting branches from Bassersdorf and Dietlikon. Each tube will be single track and 10 m wide. The north portal of the tunnel will be located at Tössmühle, near Winterthur. Additional capacity will also be provided by grade-separated junctions at Wallisellen, Dietlikon, and Winterthur. Trains will travel through the tunnel at speeds of up to 160 km/h, with a travel time of around three minutes. 

At the same time, partial upgrades will be made to the stations of Winterthur-Töss, Dietlikon, Bassersdorf, and Wallisellen, making them accessible for people with disabilities. The cycling network in Dietlikon and Wallisellen will also be expanded. These improvements will help reduce travel times and enhance regional transport services. 

If no appeal is filed with the Federal Administrative Court within 30 days, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will finalize the project timeline and inform affected residents. According to the current schedule, preliminary work could begin in early 2026, with the new line expected to be operational by 2037. 

Parliament approved the capacity expansion for this corridor- estimated at around CHF 3.3 billion (based on 2014 prices) - back in 2019 as part of the 2035 development phase. Because the project is already well advanced, it was not included in ETH Zurich’s "Transport '45" review. further information click ch/119 for tunnelbuilder archive and visit https://www.bav.admin.ch/ and https://company.sbb.ch. 42/25.