Ceneri Base Tunnel: Test operation to begin soon
The Ceneri Base Tunnel is the last major structure of the New Rail Link through the Alps Neat. It will be opened next September and go into operation in December 2020. For this reason, test operations will begin soon, and a rescue exercise is also planned.
With the approval for test operation, the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) confirms to AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd (ATG) that the traction current system in the Ceneri Base Tunnel can be switched on and test operation can begin. After the final preparatory work, ATG will start test operations in March and carry out test runs until the end of August 2020. This will involve testing the interaction of all railroad engineering systems and, in close coordination with SBB, applying the processes in accordance with the rules of commercial operation. Part of the test operation is also a rescue exercise in June.
Test drives from September
After the tunnel is taken over by SBB as operator at the beginning of September 2020, test runs with commercial freight and passenger trains will be carried out until the tunnel can be used according to schedule from mid-December.
To ensure that the test operation can be carried out in full with the ETCS Level 2 safety system (driver's cab signaling) that will be used in the tunnel, the FOT has issued SBB with the operating permit for the new electronic interlocking in Vezia at the same time as approving the test operation.
The Ceneri Base Tunnel has a length of 15.4 km and runs from Camorino near Bellinzona to Vezia near Lugano. From December 2020, it will enable improvements for passenger and freight traffic on the Gotthard axis and, with the direct Lugano - Locarno connection, will give Ticino a boost in regional transport services.
Source: SBB
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