CROSS-CITY LINK (DML)

The SBB and Canton Zurich are moving forward with joint efforts to extend the public transport network serving people and businesses in the Zurich area. Together with the expansion of the Oerlikon station, the Altstetten–Zurich main station–Oerlikon cross-city link (the “ Durchmesserlinie” or diametral line) will create urgently needed extra capacity at Zurich main station. At the same time, an additional (fourth) round of work to extend the Zurich S-Bahn network is planned. The package will enable a new, more extensive range of S-Bahn and long-distance rail services to be offered in incremental stages from mid-2014 through the end of 2018.

Work to expand Altstetten–Zurich main station–Oerlikon capacity with a fast cross-city link on the west-east axis, avoiding the need for trains to turn around at Zurich main station
New line from the Limmat Valley (Altstetten) and left shore of Lake Zurich to Oerlikon
Urgently required expansion in capacity of Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest rail hub, which is running at its limits
Second underground through station, with four 420-metre-long platforms and convenient access between trains and Zurich city centre
9.6 km of new line between Altstetten and Oerlikon (57% underground)
Expansion of the Oerlikon station with the addition of platforms 7 and 8, plus upgrades of the existing public facilities
Investment costs: CHF 2.031 billion (based on prices in April 2005, with SBB Infrastructure, federal authorities (Infrastructure Fund) and Canton Zurich each contributing a third, in addition to preliminary financing from Canton Zurich including contributions from neighbouring cantons totalling a maximum of CHF 500 million)

More information on the project: www.durchmesserlinie.ch (German)

Project milestones

21 May 1999	A popular initiative is submitted calling for the construction of a second underground through station for S-Bahn traffic.
23 Sep 2001	82% of the Canton Zurich electorate vote in favour of cantonal funding of CHF 580 million, 40% of the total budget of CHF 1,450 million.
2002 – Dec 2004	Preinvestment works carried out on the Löwenstrasse station and the extension to platforms 4 to 9 in the main station building
Jul 2003	SBB agrees to the early commencement of work to extend the Sihlquai passage proposed by Canton Zurich.
3 Jun 2005	Groundbreaking ceremony for the early commencement of work on the Sihlquai passage project (construction to run from 2005 to end-2008)
2004 – 2006	Main project planning approval phase (project approved by the Federal Office of Transport on 20 December 2006)
20 Sep 2007	Groundbreaking ceremony for the main project is held, and skeleton construction work on the Löwenstrasse station, the Weinberg tunnel and the new junction in Oerlikon commences
2007 – mid 2014	Construction of Löwenstrasse station and Weinberg tunnel commences
5 Sep 2008	Conclusion of the trilateral agreement between the Swiss Federal Government, Canton Zurich and SBB regarding financing of the cross-city link and expansion of the project to include upgrades at the Oerlikon station (addition of platforms 7 and 8) with total costs of CHF 2.031 billion
2008 – 2015	Construction of Altstetten link
3 Nov 2010	Planning approval granted for the expansion of the Oerlikon station
22 Nov 2010	Weinberg tunnel breakthrough
2011 / 2012	Construction work on the Oerlikon station commences
27 March 2012	Groundbreaking for the main construction work on the expansion of the Oerlikon station including links to the surrounding urban area and improved access in the east part of the station
2012 – 2015	Construction work on the expansion of the Oerlikon station with the addition of platforms 7 and 8 (preliminary work beginning in spring 2011)
Mid 2014	Commissioning of Löwenstrasse station (opening of the cross-city link from Wiedikon via the Löwenstrasse station to Oerlikon)
End of 2015	Commissioning of the track connection from the west (Altstetten station) to the Löwenstrasse station

CROSS-CITY LINK (DML)

Project milestones

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