A month ago, a goods train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. For a fortnight now, the undamaged east tunnel has been open to freight traffic again. Solutions are being sought for passenger trains so that they can also travel through the base tunnel at weekends. A time forecast is not possible. The extensive clearance work at the accident site in the west tunnel is progressing according to plan.
The extensive clearance and recovery work at the accident site in the west tunnel is expected to last until the end of September. Work is being carried out in two shifts, seven days a week. 22 wagons and two locomotives have already been removed from the tunnel. Currently, 8 wagons are still in the tunnel. Several wagons were so badly damaged that they have to be dismantled in the tunnel before they can be removed. The wagons are being salvaged via the south portal, which is about 15 kilometres away from the accident site. For this purpose, a temporary track had to be built in places.
Parallel to this work, SBB is making a detailed survey of the damage caused. This means that work on repairing the damaged railway facilities can begin immediately after the end of the clearance and salvage work at the end of September. As soon as SBB knows the exact extent of the damage, it can order the additional replacement material required.
Since 23 August, four goods trains at a time have been able to travel through the undamaged east tunnel. These are followed by four goods trains from the opposite direction. Currently, about 90 of a maximum of 100 goods trains per day travel through the Gotthard Base Tunnel. An additional 15 to 20 goods trains per day travel via the Gotthard panorama route.
