Lucerne through station: major project reaches milestone

SBB has completed the preliminary project for the Lucerne through station in spring 2023. On the occasion of this milestone in the project process, SBB, together with the federal government, the canton and the city of Lucerne, is providing an insight into the planning work and informing about the further procedure. 

The Lucerne through station is intended to eliminate bottlenecks in the Lucerne rail hub with new, underground approaches and an underground station. The project, which is currently in the planning phase, is intended to create capacity in today’s fully utilised railway system and thus enable new, more direct and faster rail connections in the future. “The underground station and the new, underground access routes will improve the accessibility and attractiveness of Central Switzerland,” says Massimo Guglielmetti, SBB overall project manager for Lucerne through station. “Without infrastructure expansion, further development of rail services in Lucerne is no longer possible.”

In the preliminary project, SBB presents the technical feasibility of the large-scale project, which consists of the sub-projects underground station, three-lane tunnel and Neustadt tunnel:

• With the underground station, a total of 44 metres wide platform hall for four tracks will be built below the existing station. This will create more space at Lucerne station, which is currently used by around 100,000 passengers every day
• The 3.8-kilometre-long three-lane tunnel will create an underground, direct line from Ebikon to Lucerne, crossing under the lake basin over a length of 400 metres. This second access removes the bottleneck situation in the railway network and enables more frequent and faster train connections
• The 2.1-kilometre-long Neustadt Tunnel connects the underground station to the existing access road. This will enable through connections and eliminate the need for a majority of trains to turn around in the Lucerne terminus station

In order for the planned improved service to be of benefit to the whole of Central Switzerland, the railway infrastructure in the catchment area must also be expanded at certain points. In addition, parking facilities are needed outside Lucerne station to be able to park trains overnight and outside peak times

Lowering tunnel under the lake basin
Compared to previous plans, a lowering tunnel is now planned for the subway of the lake basin. Five prefabricated elements of the tunnel tube will be lowered into the bottom of Lake Lucerne. This means that it is not necessary to drain the lake basin in sections. The environment and landscape are less affected. This construction method has never been used in Switzerland before.

The costs for the three project parts, the underground station, the Dreilinden tunnel and the Neustadt tunnel, are estimated at 3.3 billion Swiss francs. For the realisation, SBB expects a construction period of 11 to 13 years

Additional studies on howto proceed
SBB is now clarifying possible implementation sequences for the major project on behalf of the Federal Office of Transport (FOT). The results should be available by the end of 2023. A decision will then be made on the next steps in the project. “All the work is going according to plan. I am convinced that the Federal Council will be able to present a well-studied and advanced project to parliament in 2026,” Anna Barbara Remund, FOT Vice Director and Head of the Infrastructure Division, told the media in Lucerne. The federal parliament will ultimately decide on the implementation

Great importance for Lucerne and Central Switzerland
The expansion of the Lucerne railway junction is one of the most important infrastructure projects in the region. “Central Switzerland has been waiting for the urgently needed infrastructure upgrades at the Lucerne hub and in the direction of Zurich for 50 years,” held Cantonal Councillor Fabian Peter, Director of Construction, Environment and Economic Affairs and President of the Central Switzerland Public Transport Directors. “An attractive public transport offer is crucial if we are to be able to cope with mobility growth at all and handle it sustainably,” said Fabian Peter. “In order for the through station to unfold its full benefits, Central Switzerland expects it to be realised and financed from a single source.”

For the city of Lucerne, there will be the opportunity to make the space around the station attractive, to make the station more accessible and to increase the quality of stay. “The city will also work to ensure that the construction period of over ten years is as compatible with the city as possible,” said City Councillor Manuela Jost, Director of Construction. “Even during this time, open spaces must be preserved and the city centre must remain accessible.”sBB is planning the through station on behalf of the Federal Office of Transport. It is working with the canton and city of Lucerne, Zentralbahn, the Lucerne transport association and the cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden, and is involving the LuzernPlus association of municipalities.

Source www.sbb.ch