In order to be able to implement the service improvements ordered in the Federal Expansion Plan 2025 (AS25), a new railway tunnel is to be built near G\u00fcmligen. Together with other projects from the AS25, the “Unbundling G\u00fcmligen South” will make it easier for trains to cross. In the long term, this will make it possible to run a quarter-hourly service on the Berne-Muensingen S-Bahn, coupled with a half-hourly service on the Berne-Langnau S-Bahn, as well as additional capacities for long-distance traffic and freight traffic in the Aare Valley. The “unbundling of G\u00fcmligen South” provides passengers with more stability in the timetable and, together with other projects, more connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
450 metres of tunnel for easier crossing of trains Around 5 years construction time In December 2022, SBB submitted the dossier for the planning approval procedure to the Federal Office of Transport. The planning documents will be open to the public from 1 May 2023 to 30 May 2023 at the municipal administrations of Muri bei Bern, Allmendingen, Worb, Ostermundigen, Vechigen, Stettlen and Krauchthal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The estimated costs for the “Unbundling G\u00fcmligen South” are around CHF 200 million (+\/- 10%). The project is being financed through the federal government’s 2025 expansion stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Specifically, SBB is planning a new, 450-metre-long railway tunnel underneath the existing railway line between Muri and R\u00fcfenacht\/Allmendingen, in the H\u00fcenli forest. In order to be able to operate the new tunnel, SBB must also replace the existing G\u00fcmligen signal box and relocate the transmission line in the affected area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>As things stand today, construction is scheduled to begin in May 2024. The new transmission line is scheduled to go into operation one year later and the new signal box another year later. Passengers are expected to travel through the new tunnel for the first time in mid-2028; according to current planning, it will take until the end of 2029 to complete the entire project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n