Why is Cargo sous terrain needed?

CST provides a continuous goods flow in small units, which is what is required today. It is a complete logistics system across the entire goods route, from production to the end customer. It represents a step in the direction of the digital logistics of the future, relieves the burden on overground transport routes, and supports the energy revolution.

How will CST be able to relieve the burden on roads and railways and reduce the volume of traffic?

The full route of CST will take 40% of heavy goods vehicles off the roads, and 20% on the first section from Härkingen-Niederbipp to Zurich. This has positive effects on the traffic flow and the burden on the traffic infrastructure. As large distribution centres are connected directly to the tunnel via a hub, fewer traffic movements are inevitably required. In urban areas, city logistics can reduce delivery traffic by 30%.

Would it not be simpler to optimise overground goods transports?

Overground measures such as automatically controlled HGV convoys, road pricing or driverless vehicles are necessary and welcome improvements. Nevertheless, they do not solve the issue that there is no real prospect or potential for expansion on overground traffic routes. This is why a new, underground track route is required for goods transport.

Why are the funds for CST not going towards railway transport?

Even if the funds for CST were to be put into the railway infrastructure, there are limits to the expansion options for the railway network, too. These funds are investments in CST coming from the business sector, and cannot be used for any other purpose. CST is not in competition with the rail services in terms of financing. The expansion of the railway infrastructure will be financed from the Swiss Federal government railway infrastructure funds.

What will Cargo sous terrain cost and who will be paying for it?

For the phase up to construction permit approval for the first section (in other words, planning with the associated research and development), binding assurances of investments of CHF 100 million have been made. These funds will be released once the CST legislation comes into force. For the construction of the first section (Härkingen-Niederbipp to Zurich), a total of CHF 3 billion is required. A further CHF 30 billion is needed for the complete Swiss network. CST is a market-based initiative, and the construction of the infrastructure and the operation of the tunnel will not be subsidised with public funds.

What are the assurances that CST will not be taken over by foreign investors?

CST is and will remain a Swiss majority-owned company. Following the release of the investments for the construction permit phase, the Swiss majority is currently over 55%. The CST infrastructure will not be taken over by foreign firms because a Swiss majority shareholding will be in place at each project stage, including its operations. This is also a requirement of the Federal Law on underground Freight Transportation.

Why is a new Federal law required for Cargo sous terrain?

The Federal law provides the legal basis on which CST can be implemented in Switzerland. It specifies the framework conditions for the approval and operation of CST. As this is an infrastructure spanning regional canton boundaries, a standardised planning approval procedure is required at federal level. The exact route of the tunnel and the location of the hubs will be determined as part of a sectoral planning process in collaboration with the cantons and communities.

There have been previous underground transport projects that did not come to fruition. Why is CST going to work? Why is CST going to work?

CST has conducted a detailed feasibility study. In contrast to purely technology-based projects, CST has been developed in close collaboration with verified market requirements. In other words, the system will be designed on the basis of the needs of the users. CST is based on tried and tested technologies from intralogistics. The innovation here is combining these components to create an integrated control system.

Can CST be operated cost-effectively? Has the business plan been audited?

CST has been evaluated by auditing teams from international investors and has been confirmed sound. The long list of investors is evidence enough that CST is no pipe dream, but a realistic project which is expected to generate a profit in the longer term. In addition, the Swiss federal government has commissioned a study on the economic impact of CST that draws positive conclusions and confirms the core assumptions of CST.

Is CST a competitor to previous market operators such as SBB Cargo?

CST is introducing a new component to the logistics market. With that said, CST does not regard itself as a competitor to the logistics service providers or the railway, but as an adjunct to existing offerings. The expected transport services from CST will primarily absorb the growth in goods traffic on the roads and will not be encroaching on existing market shares. In addition, participation in CST is open to everyone involved in the marketplace. The existing infrastructure is accessible to everyone.

Will CST mean a loss of jobs due to automation (e.g. HGV drivers, logistics operatives)?

Digitisation means a change in the world of work, but this is not being caused by CST. This change will mean that in future, different and new jobs will be created. CST also offers potential for new jobs (and even the reinstatement of jobs) when production returns to Switzerland thanks to 3D printing centres at the CST hubs. CST is good for Switzerland because it brings innovation with it. This is a critical “raw material” for Switzerland and is simultaneously an important export product.

Operating the tunnel consumes a lot of energy, though. So how can CST be environmentally friendly?

The CST system will be operated with 100% renewable energy. A Life Cycle Assessment by leading experts has confirmed clear benefits over all other current and future transport systems. The effects on the air quality, noise emissions, space utilisation and health costs were examined. The effects in terms of air quality, noise emissions, space utilisation as well as the health costs were investigated. The first section will mean annual CO2 emissions savings roughly equivalent to the emissions produced by the town of Moutier in comparison to other logistics systems. The use of renewable energy means that CST is also supporting the energy revolution.

Efficient micro-distribution in urban areas is a nice idea, but so far there has not been a single city logistics project that has functioned in reality. How is CST city logistics going to fare any better?

In the CST system, the goods are already sorted and bundled by destination when transported in the tunnel. This bundling process means that they are optimally prepared for the subsequent micro-distribution process. At the hub, the goods simply need to be loaded onto appropriate vehicles – depending on the size, volume and destination, these are courier bikes, motorbikes or small delivery vans. This guarantees coordinated deliveries to sales outlets and end consumers, rather than each supplier delivering their goods individually.

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