Futuristic underground cargo system
There are plans for a massive underground cargo transportation system to take the pressure off the roads and rail. The first part would run from logistic centres in Solothurn and Bern to the city of Zurich. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)
A feasibility study presented on Tuesday revealed that just the first step in the large-scale plans would cost CHF3.5 billion ($3.4 billion) for a 66.7km-long stretch of the tunnel. A team has been working on the concept for two years, with federal support.
The team say the first part of the underground transport network could be ready by 2030. The tunnel’s promoters have called it a “pragmatic and technically-simple solution”, saying that at a depth of 50m and width of 6m, the tunnels would be environmentally friendly and efficient.
The unmanned, automated vehicles would be propelled and steered by electromagnetic induction and run at 30km/hour. They could run 24-hours a day, and there would even be a separate section for packages.
More
Go to war or stay put? Ukrainian men in Switzerland face fresh dilemmas
More
Global rankings: where Switzerland gets good marks – and where it could do better
More
The surprising boom of Switzerland’s least-loved coin
More
What Trump’s return or a new Harris administration would mean for Switzerland
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.