News analysis Lake Constance regional projects take shape Several projects are in the pipeline or already underway to upgrade rail links in the regional triangle between Germany, Austria and Switzerland, not to mention Liechtenstein a little further south. Anitra Green takes a look at the current state of play. N March this year an coherent vision for the their own benefit but also in stations re-opened, and I international group set up regional rail network. anticipation of cross-border existing stations upgraded. In to promote the development of Swiss engineer and cooperation projects designed addition, there would be a an S-Bahn network encircling transport planner Mr Paul to bring the various elements need to construct many more Lake Constance wrote to the Stopper, one of the initiators of together into a coherent, passing loops in Germany and governments of Switzerland, IBSB, says that with strong functional system. on the single-track lines in Austria, and Germany urging and organised backing at a An added motivation to Austria and Switzerland. them to invest in a programme local level, governments in develop the Lake Constance Part of this project is the of track-doubling and Brussels, Berlin, Vienna and S-Bahn is the three-month “Gürtelbahn” (belt line) electrification as a prerequisite Bern are more likely to lend “Nature in the City” garden initiative in Germany. This for regular-interval high- their support. show in Lindau in 2021, which involves electrifying the quality regional services. With passenger figures is expected to attract large Lindau - Friedrichshafen - The Lake Constance S-Bahn showing a steady increase at numbers of visitors. Ideally Radolfzell line, which has until Initiative (IBSB) is calling for the eastern end of Lake there would be a half-hourly now been treated as a low the establishment of a joint Constance, the time has S-Bahn around the priority by the state of Baden- infrastructure fund involving certainly come for circumference of Lake Württemberg. A recent study national, regional and local improvements in cross-border Constance, offering high-speed analysing several different governments together with services, but the lines around connections to major German scenarios shows that no closer integration of fares and the lake are largely single track cities like Munich, Ulm and significant improvement can train operations around the and most of the lines on the Stuttgart, as well as to Swiss be expected without lake. The group argues that German side are not and Austrian centres in the electrification, but it is unclear the allocation of electrified. Nonetheless, the upper Rhine valley, when this will happen. Mr responsibilities is currently so incumbents in the three Vorarlberg, and Tyrol. For this, Michael Frei of SMA and complicated that it is almost countries all have their own the line on German side would Partner, which carried out the impossible to develop a upgrading plans, not only for have to be electrified, disused study, says electrification is 16 IRJ June 2014 introduction of tilting trains, is due to be completed in 2018. by ÖBB services between will cut Munich - Zürich ÖBB has also completed the Feldkirch (Austria) and Buchs journey times from 4h 10min first part of a project to (Switzerland). The principality rail to 3h 15min - a welcome upgrade the line over the has a population of 37,000 and improvement as rail struggles Rhine between St Margrethen, a total of 36,000 jobs, leading to compete with road and air Lustenau and Lauterach under inevitably to chronic on this route. The aim is to a bilateral agreement between congestion at peak hours as finish construction work in Austria and Switzerland; a around half this number of 2019 with electric services due new 275m bridge has been people cross the border in both to begin running in December built, with the deck 2m higher directions. 2020. than the original structure to This is where a new S-Bahn The terminus station at protect against floodwater project dubbed Flach comes in. Lindau presents a particular after disastrous floods in A tri-national initiative challenge. Situated on an recent years. The second part between Liechtenstein, the island at the eastern end of calls for upgrading the track Austrian province of Lake Constance, it is served by between Lustenau and Vorarlberg and the Swiss trains from Austria and Lauterach, which will be canton of St Gallen, the aim is Switzerland as well as completed in 2019. to provide a half-hourly Germany. Long-distance In Switzerland, the latest service and good connections international services have to development is the new to both neighbouring S-Bahn switch between diesel and S-Bahn in St Gallen launched networks, as well as to ÖBB electric traction. in December last year, with Vienna - Zürich Railjet services Proposals have existed for new lines and services every and IC trains between Chur decades to relocate the station 30 minutes, rising to every 15 and Zürich. to the mainland, but according minutes at peak times. More The initial ƒ99m phase of to Mr Georg Speth, urban improvements are planned in the project involves building a development manager for the the region over the next four second track between Tisis, town of Lindau, a two-station years. The station is served not Austria, and Nendeln in solution is the preferred option only by Swiss Federal Liechtenstein, together with at present, with long-distance Railways (SBB) but also by the reconstruction of the trains passing through Lindau Thurbo, a 90% subsidiary of stations at Schaanwald and Reutin on the mainland and SBB, and Südostbahn (SOB), Nendeln. Construction costs regional services continuing to Switzerland’s third largest will be split equally between use a redeveloped island railway. Austria and Liechtenstein, station - to be renamed Lindau The canton of Thurgau is according to Mr Henrik Insel. Construction of both planning investments of SFr Caduff from Liechtenstein’s stations would therefore be 260m ($US 291m) to improve department of construction Photo: David Gubler developed in parallel, with rail infrastructure and has and infrastructure. The target unlikely to be implemented Reutin slated for completion in already secured financing. A for the start of operations is until 2019-20 at the earliest. 2020 and Insel in 2021. Again, plan to upgrade the line 2015, although he admits this A related scheme is a Swiss the immediate incentive is the between Weinfelden, is optimistic. initiative to develop the garden show in 2021. Kreuzlingen and Konstanz is Another longer-term project “Bodensee-Rheintal Y” line, Across the border in not expected to be realised is a new regional link from connecting Chur and the Austria, Austrian Federal until 2020 at the earliest since Schaan to Trübbach and upper Rhine Valley with the Railways (ÖBB) is in the financing for the SFr 71m Sargans (Switzerland), via a Austrian border at St process of upgrading all the project has not yet been new 14.5km single track line Margrethen and Rorschach, stations along the Rhine Valley secured. with passing loops and a where one branch heads west line from Bregenz to Feldkirch Changes are also coming to tunnel in the Vaduz area, to St Gallen and Zürich airport in a ƒ214m programme, which Liechtenstein, which is served which could be constructed as and the other to Constance. a tram-train line. The tram- Again the idea is to offer a Lake Constance train option could utilise half-hourly service, which will existing roads with tighter IRJ Tuttlingen up!Vmn entail track-doubling. The first up!Pggfocvsh Pfullendorf Memmingen curves, giving it the edge in phase was approved by the Stockach Aulendorf Singen up urban areas where building a Swiss Council of States in GERMANY !Nvojdi new railway track would be a Schaffhausen Radolfzell February this year and the Überlingen Kisslegg problem; it could also allow project is due to be completed Constance the operation of a 15-minute Mblf!Dpotubodf by 2020. Kempten interval service. Costs would Friedrichshafen Meanwhile, the incumbents Kreuzlingen be lower too: a projected Lindau Hergatz in all three countries are Winterthur ƒ230m compared with ƒ315m Romanshorn Immenstadt working on improving the for the heavy rail option. Zurich Bregenz basic framework and St Margrethen There are obviously plenty developing efficient regional St Gallen of projects in the pipeline, but and urban services on their Oberstdorf there is still a long way to go SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA own territories. German Rail N before the infrastructure, (DB) has launched a ƒ310m Schaan Feldkirch financial and cooperation 0 25 project to electrify the Munich Electrified lines Buchs km issues are resolved and an Being electrified LICHTENSTEIN (Geltendorf) - Lindau line Bludenz efficient intra-regional service which, together with the Diesel lines becomes reality. IRJ IRJ June 2014 17.