A new massive underground freight tunnel system has been given the go-ahead in Switzerland. The project hopes to connect Geneva and St. Gallen with cargo tunnels by 2045, with the first section set to open in 2030.

Switzerland plans to transport cargo in tubes underneath the surface

The Cargo sous terrain (CST) project aims to connect all major Swiss cities with a three-lane, six-metre wide underground tunnel. The tunnel will be used by automated, driverless electric vehicles, which will carry cargo loads at 30 kilometres per hour through the system.

The tunnel layout allows for a constant flow of goods between major cargo centres and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Above the three lanes, there will be an overhead rail system that will be able to deliver smaller packages at 60km /h.

Video: Cargo sous terrain / YouTube

The aim is to reduce Switzerland's reliance on railways and motorways for transporting cargo. Official estimates from the government say that there will be up to 450 kilometres of traffic every day by 2040, if the road network remains the same as it is today. With a fully electric cargo system detached from the road network, CST hopes to make the transport of freight more efficient and environmentally friendly.

All major Swiss cities to be connected to a cargo tunnel network by 2045

The first 70-kilometre section will be built between Zurich and Härkingen-Niederbipp, with construction expected to be completed by 2030. From there, Zurich, Winterthur, St. Gallen, Basel, Bern, Thun, Lucerne, Yverdon-les-Bains, Lausanne and Geneva will all be connected to the cargo tunnel network. In all, the project aims to lay 450 kilometres of freight tunnels by 2045.

The project is being funded by Swiss international companies, internet providers, the postal service, banks, supermarkets and insurance companies. The total cost is estimated at between 30 and 35 billion francs.

The project was officially given the go-ahead by the Swiss government in December 2021, and no referendum has been launched against the idea. This means that the project has been given the green light, with construction expected to begin on August 1, 2022.