Positive development of NRLA feeder lines

The expansion of the Italian and German feeder lines to the new Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) is progressing. In 1999, both countries committed themselves in a treaty to fulfil the required works. At the last meeting of the bilateral Italian-Swiss working group, the Italian infrastructure manager RFI presented the latest developments.

Unlike Switzerland who has secured the financing of all NRLA works by the new public transport fund (FinöV), Italy must coordinate financing case by case and as part of the regular budget process. Meanwhile, necessary financing for major projects like the new line Terzo Valico dei Giovi between Tortona and Genoa, the new connection Arcisate-Stabio as well as the four-lane expansion and Y-connection between Rho and Parabiago have been assured, € 2.5 billion in total. Switzerland and Italy also want to tighten their engagement for the expansion of the NRLA feeder lines as well as other railway infrastructure by signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the beginning of 2013.

For the southward link to the NRLA, three well-developed feeder lines (via Chiasso respectively via Luino to the Gotthard line, and via Domodossola to the Lötschberg line) are a major plus. In Germany, the Rhine Valley line is the only feeder line to NRLA. After the expansion of the line, positive news came from Germany recently. At the beginning of March, the project advisory board together with representatives of the federal government, the state Baden-Württemberg and the citizens’ group agreed on one specific expansion scenario and the financing of a rail freight line to by-pass the town of Freiburg. Furthermore, the second bridge crossing the Rhine in Basel as well as the new line via the Katzenberg are shortly before completion. This allows a gradually increase of the capacity of the line.