Infografica della sezione verticale di uno dei tunnel di collegamento di Cargo Sous Terrain in Svizzera

In Switzerland the transport of goods will “slide” underground

Decisive financial and legal steps for the Cargo Sous Terrain project, thanks to which efficient loading units will travel at 30 km/h in three-lane tunnels

Switzerland is aiming at the realization of an interesting and unprecedented freight transport system, especially designed for companies, which will revolutionize the national and European scenario.
This is the Cargo Sous Terrain project, which aims to develop by 2030 an innovative infrastructure for the movement of goods and raw materials, which will improve and drastically change the appearance and functionality of logistics in the medium term.
Cargo Sous Terrain will create a new transport route reserved exclusively for goods, thus relieving the country’s road and rail network, with a view to general rationalization.
It is a system developed by companies for companies. According to current transport forecasts, there will in fact be a 45% increase in movements between 2010 and 2030.
Urgent and possibly unconventional solutions are therefore needed to deal with the increase in freight traffic flows, both for the economy and for society in general.

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Infografica completa dei collegamenti di Cargo Sous Terrain in Svizzera, con il tratto iniziale fra Härkingen-Niederbipp e Zurigo in colore arancione — Complete infographic of Cargo Sous Terrain connections in Switzerland, with the initial section between Härkingen-Niederbipp and Zurich in orange color

An Underground Tunnel and Efficient Distribution in the City

Cargo Sous Terrain will consist of two key components: an underground transport tunnel and an efficient and environmentally friendly distribution system for goods in city centers (City-Logistik).
Starting in 2030, this universal logistics system will develop into a new network of freight infrastructure.

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Simulazione in 3D dell'ascensore verticale di carico del Cargo Sous Terrain — 3D simulation of vertical cargo elevator of Cargo Sous Terrain

Pallets and containers automatically introduced or extracted

The CST Development Association conducted a feasibility study in 2014-2015, which is still remarkably relevant today. The analysis revealed that the Cargo Sous Terrain system is both technically and economically manageable.
Transport units will move at a constant speed of 30 km per hour in three-lane tunnels.
Goods on pallets and containers will be automatically introduced or extracted from the system through vertical or horizontal access points, i.e. through real hubs.
CST will distribute the goods and raw materials to their final destination, packing them into environmentally friendly and low-noise vehicles that will run beneath the earth’s surface.

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Simulazione in 3D di tutta la connessione logistica all'interno di una città del Cargo Sous Terrain — 3D simulation of the whole logistic connection within a Cargo Sous Terrain city

The first section of the CST will be from Härkingen-Niederbipp to Zurich

The first section, from Härkingen-Niederbipp to the Zurich metropolitan area, will go into operation in 2030, and will therefore also include areas in the cantons of Solothurn and Bern.
After that, the Cargo Sous Terrain project will gradually develop into a Swiss network through which goods can be transported from every entry point to every possible location: from Geneva to St. Gallen and from Basel to Lucerne, while for Ticino a connection by train via AlpTransit is envisaged.
After the positive results of the feasibility study, starting on January 26, 2016 the elaboration of a comprehensive business plan, the establishment of a limited liability company and the initiation of talks and signatures with the initial investors, including the Californians of Hyperloop and, Later, Coop, Bekaert, Migros, Mobiliar, Helvetia, SAP, Migros-Pensionskasse, Genossenschaft Migros Aare, B+S Ingenieure und Planer, WIR Bank Genossenschaft, K+D Valueinvest AG, Siemens Schweiz AG, ERNE AG Bauunternehmung, Panalpina, Schwendimann and Flughafen Zürich AG.

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Developed in partnership with private sector and market actors

The feasibility study, which is being translated into a full-fledged implementation design, was carried out in close collaboration with the private sector and users of the system.
This approach ensures that the Cargo Sous Terrain system is in line with current market needs and ensures the success of future project expansion.
Instead of transporting goods by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), the CST relies on the continuous and cost-effective transport of individual pallets and containers.
This will change logistics flows considerably and reduce the current need for storage space, handling, and efforts to prepare pallets and containers for HGV trailers.
It is possible, and even desirable, for all stakeholders to participate in the Cargo Sous Terrain system, especially in the long run.

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Uno dei veicoli di trasporto che sarà utilizzato da Cargo Sous Terrain in Svizzera — One of the transport vehicles that will be used by Cargo Sous Terrain in Switzerland

Total investment amounts to CHF 3.5 billion

The investment costs for the realization of the first section are about 3.5 billion CHF. The feasibility study shows that the CST is an attractive investment and can therefore be financed by the private sector, all the more so because it gives great advantages from an environmental point of view, in particular by reducing CO2 and noise emissions.
The amount of carbon dioxide released per ton of goods transported by the Cargo Sous Terrain system is 80 percent lower than by conventional transport. The system will run exclusively on renewable energy.

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Infografica della sezione verticale di uno dei tunnel di collegamento di Cargo Sous Terrain — Infographic of the vertical section of one of the connecting tunnels of Cargo Sous Terrain

On June 1, 2021, the Council of States will give a resounding “yes”.

In order for the TSA to be implemented as planned, a legal basis had to be created at the federal level.
On June 1, 2021, with an almost unanimous vote in favor of the Federal Act on the Underground Transportation of Goods (39 yes, no and only one abstention), the Council of States established the first legal act for the implementation of the Cargo Sous Terrain project.
The version of the law that was adopted represents a balanced variant between the interests of the stakeholders (Confederation, cantons, municipalities and landowners) and CST.

#Politics, the #economy and #science support CST in the committee «Future Switzerland with Cargo sous terrain». #visionary #logistics #solution #Cargosousterrain https://t.co/AeONuxxiot https://t.co/DOENlpKOrn pic.twitter.com/KX33uv7gc2

— Cargo sous terrain (@CSTcargo) December 8, 2020

Planning for the building permit, which has already begun, can then be continued. Subsequently, the National Council, as the second chamber, will deal with the law.
The promoting association expects that the deliberations of the competent committee of the National Council will begin after the summer vacations, so that, if things go well, the rule can be approved by the main chamber of the Federal Assembly in the second half of the year.
The TSA has built the first milestone thanks to the active support of the Federal Council, which ruled favorably on January 29, 2020, the administration (with the Federal Office of Transportation in the lead) and the cantons, as well as the shareholders and employees involved.

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Simulazione in 3D dell'ascensore verticale di carico e del tunnel orizzontale di movimentazione delle merci del Cargo Sous Terrain — 3D simulation of the vertical cargo elevator and the horizontal cargo handling tunnel of the Cargo Sous Terrain

100 million francs are already available for planning

The project is privately financed, and 100 million francs have long been secured for planning, up to the point when the building permit will be ready. Not only that: thanks to new investors, the available capital has increased by 7.8 million francs in the past year.
The CST Development Association is made up of major players: the consortium Detailhandel Schweiz (IG DHS – Coop, Manor, Migros and Denner), Rhenus Alpina, Die Mobiliar, SQS, SBB Cargo, Swisscom, Die Post, BKW, the Civil Engineering Office of the City of Zurich and CargoTube.

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Infografica di dettaglio dei collegamenti di Cargo Sous Terrain nel tratto iniziale da Härkingen-Niederbipp (Cantoni di Berma e Soletta) a Zurigo — Detailed infographics of Cargo Sous Terrain connections on the initial stretch from Härkingen-Niederbipp (cantons of Berne and Solothurn) to Zurich

Construction start on first section in 2026, completion in 2031

Construction work on the first section from Härkingen-Niederbipp to Zurich will begin in 2026, and the line will go into operation in 2031.
A number of renowned companies from the retail, transport, logistics, infrastructure, tunnel construction, traffic planning, geology, energy and sustainability sectors are also members of the Development Association and will be actively involved in the implementation of the project
Peter Sutterlüti, president of the TSA Development Association, said, “Cargo Sous Terrain is more than just a tunnel: it is an innovative and comprehensive logistics system that connects industry and logistics facilities with large agglomerations using a fully automated, intelligent and forward-looking guidance system.”

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