On the 4th February the cantons of Bern and Valais along with with Grimselbahn AG and Swissgrid showcased the Grimsel railway line project. The new narrow gauge line will link Meiringen (BE) with Oberwald (VS) and will include a 22.26 km long tunnel below the Grimsel Pass starting at Innertkirchen (BE). A feasibility study, commissioned by the cantons of Bern, Valais, Uri and other partners, has shown the significant advantages of a cable option through the tunnel. The tunnel would enable the passage of the high-voltage power line. This will allow Swissgrid, to renew and strengthen its network by 2025. As well as removing the overhead line of 121 electricity pylons and 23 km of power lines from the Handegg-Grimsel Pass protected area. Enabling lower maintenance costs and less environmental impact.

A request for railroad concession is going to be forwarded to the Confederation in 2018. The EUR5.39 million design costs would be distributed among the involved cantons in the Gotthard region in central Switzerland and Swissgrid. The construction of the tunnel, including cable ducts, would require an investment of EUR521 million, financed by Grimselbahn (42%) and Swissgrid (58%). The rail tunnel could also take advantage of FAIF Fund (Funding and Expansion of Railway Infrastructure). The cantons of Bern and Valais submitted the project to the Federal Office of Transport (FOT). The goal is to open by 2025. For further information about the project visit http://www.be.ch/portal/de/index.html and https://www.swissgrid.ch. 05/16.

Further links about the project can be found below:- 

http://www.be.ch/portal/de/index/mediencenter/medienmitteilungen.meldungNeu.mm.html/portal/de/meldungen/mm/2016/02/20160203_1502__grimselbahn_einmaligechancefuerhaslitalundgoms

and

https://www.swissgrid.ch/swissgrid/en/home/grid/grid_expansion/mettlen_ulrichen/innertkirchen_ulrichen.html