Authorities in Geneva have announced plans to build two new underground rail lines at a cost of 4 billion Swiss francs. It would be Geneva’s first expansion of public transport since the introduction of the Léman Express in 2019.

Two brand new railway lines proposed in Geneva

The project, submitted by authorities in Geneva, proposes the construction and opening of two new underground rail lines by 2050. “For each of these branches, it takes 1,5 to 2 billion francs,” noted Geneva State Councillor Serge Dal Busco, making it one of the most expensive transport projects in the city's history.

The first stage would be a new underground line between the main station in Geneva, Geneva Cornavin, and the village of Bernex via Lancy-Pont-Rouge and Cherpines. The second route would go from Cornavin to the suburb of Zimeysa via Genève-Sécheron, Geneva Airport and Meyrin.

Geneva hopes to construct new rail routes with government money

Speaking to 20 minuten, Dal Busco said that the scheme was “very important for the future of railways in the canton.” He noted that previous projects, like the RER and Léman Express, have been hugely successful, adding that the Léman Express already has “more than 60.000 travellers a day, whereas we were hoping for 50.000 after five years. We must therefore continue. The future is extensions.”

Dal Busco explained that the project hoped to mimic the extensive S-Bahn systems present in the city and Canton of Zurich, especially as Swiss Federal Railways has already planned to expand Geneva Cornavin by 2032, allowing the city to increase capacity. However, much like the system in Zurich, he said that “the goal is for the government to pay” for all the expansions. 

He announced that the city would be spending 30 million francs to create a plan for the project, which will be submitted to the government in Bern in 2027. If all goes well, the councillor hoped that work would begin on the project in 2040, with completion by 2050.