SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has confirmed that preparatory work on the project to replace a single-track section of railway between Twann and Ligerz on the Biel/Bienne - Neuchâtel line will commence on October 18.
The line is the final single-track section of railway south of the Jura and is a major bottleneck. The new double track alignment includes the construction of a 2.1km double-track tunnel near Ligerz, which when commissioned will enable SBB to close a section of the original railway on the north bank of Lake Bienne, which dates to 1861, opening up the land for development. The project also includes a revamp of Twann station to improve accessibility.
SBB secured the planning approval order for the project in August and construction is expected to last until December 2026. The project is budgeted at SFr 431m ($US 464.6m) and is funded by the Swiss Railway Infrastructure Fund (BIF).
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