Switzerland/Italy – Construction started on the Mendrisio-Varese S-Bahn Route

Italy has now – some six months after Switzerland – started on constructing the new S-Bahn route between Mendri-sio and Varese.
The new 17.7 km long rail link is intended to relieve transport problems in the border area for some 43,000 Italian commuters who cross to work in Switzerland on a daily basis and in future will be assured of a better and more environmentally friendly transportation link. The new link will provide Tessino with a fast connection to the Simplon-Lötschberg axis and the Mendrisio-Varese region with a rail link to Milan Airport – Malpensa.
In Italy 2 tunnels 890 and 950 m in length as well as a 438 m long viaduct had to be built; the overall costs for the new/upgraded 11.2 km long route from the Swiss border to Varese are estimated at
Euro 220 mill.
In Switzerland the existing 4.5 km long route between Mendrisio and Stabio is being upgraded to form two-tracks and electrified; the 2 km long new section between Stabio to the border at Gaggiolo will
also be provided with 2 tracks. This will result in total costs amounting to CHF 134 mill. (Euro 84 mill.) – half of which will be borne by the Canton of Tessino and the other half by the federal government. The Mendrisio-Varese S-Bahn is due to begin operating in 2013.
G. B.