SBB concludes preliminary project for Lucerne station

SBB has concluded the preliminary project for a new Lucerne station according to a press release from the national rail company, SBB. The technical feasibility of the major project consisting of an underground station, the Dreilinden tunnel, and the Neustadt tunnel was presented in a preliminary project. The station aims to create new capacity within the railway network, which is currently fully utilized. Massimo Guglielmetti, Overall Project Manager for the new station at SBB, commented in the press release: “The underground station and the new subterranean entrances will improve the accessibility and attractiveness of central Switzerland.”

The planned underground station is designed as a platform hall spanning 44 meters with four tracks. The 3.8-km Dreilinden tunnel will be a direct, subterranean line linking Ebikon with Lucerne. The Neustadt tunnel, 2.1 km in length, will connect the underground station to the existing entrance. SBB anticipates a construction period of 11 to 13 years for the project amounting to 3.3 billion Swiss francs.

Fabian Peter, Cantonal Minister, Director of Construction, Environment, and Economy for the Canton of Lucerne and President of Central Swiss Public Transport Directors, commented in the press release: “Central Switzerland has been waiting for the urgently needed infrastructure expansions at the hub of Lucerne and toward Zurich for 50 years. Central Switzerland anticipates that implementation and funding will come from one source for the station to be able to reach its full potential.”

In the next step, SBB now plans to develop possible implementation sequences on behalf of the Federal Office of Transport. The final decision is down to the Swiss Parliament. ce/hs