Switzerland's railway company BLS has received the planning approval for the partial expansion of the Lötschberg base tunnel.

English translation of BLS release -

BLS receives planning approval for the partial expansion of the Lötschberg base tunnel

Work on the expansion of the Lötschberg base tunnel is entering the next phase: BLS has received planning approval from the federal government for the partial expansion of the tunnel. Parliament is expected to decide in 2023 whether the base tunnel will be expanded partially or continuously to two lanes.

BLS is one step further in expanding the Lötschberg base tunnel. The Federal Office of Transport has granted the Bern railway company planning approval for the partial expansion of the base tunnel. The planning approval order in accordance with the railway ordinance corresponds to a building permit.

BLS is preparing both projects for the same planning status

Only 14 kilometers of the 35-kilometre-long Lötschberg Base Tunnel are two-lane. A second tube has been excavated over a further 14 kilometers but is not equipped for rail operations. On the remaining 7 kilometers at the north portal there is only one tube, the second tube still has to be excavated. Parliament is expected to decide in 2023 whether only the 14-kilometer shell construction tube will be equipped with railway technology (partial expansion) or whether the base tunnel should be expanded to double track throughout (full expansion). To this end, the BLS is preparing the project for the full expansion by the end of 2022 to a planning status comparable to that of the partial expansion project.

Main work is expected to start in 2026

The BLS will only tender the main work for the partial expansion after the parliamentary decision. This will allow them to adapt the project accordingly if Parliament decides to go for full expansion. The main work for the further expansion of the Lötschberg base tunnel is expected to start in 2026. According to the current planning status, the partial expansion will cost CHF 973.5 million.

An eight-month block is not necessary for the full expansion

The BLS supports the full expansion of the Lötschberg base tunnel. With a completely two-lane tunnel, there would be more capacity for freight and passenger traffic. In addition, the tunnel, as an important connection between the Mittelland and Valais, would remain passable throughout the construction period. In the case of a partial expansion, the tunnel would have to be completely closed for eight months.

https://www.bls.ch/en/unternehmen/medien/medienmitteilungen/2022/06-13-mm-pgvf-teilausbau-lbt