Cargo sous terrain: Logistics of Tomorrow

Cargo sous terrain (CST): a low-emission, fully automated logistics system for reliable transport of goods in small units.

CST has invested over CHF 100 million in the development of a new, sustainable freight transport system that will provide a third transport route between road and rail. The privately financed project has demonstrated its technical, economic and legal feasibility.

CST addresses the challenges of future freight transport, both in Switzerland and internationally. With its model, technological maturity and private-sector approach, CST bridges the gap between innovation, market and implementation, providing substantial benefits everywhere.

CST has an integrated understanding of technology, operations, economics and governance – knowledge that can be leveraged internationally.

CST has built up a great deal of expertise during the course of project development:

Detailed analyses of freight flows and demand forecasts in Switzerland
In-depth expertise in system design, tunnel and conveyor technology
Extensive experience in coordination with authorities (safety, fire protection, environmental compatibility)
Know-how in project procurement, business case development and stakeholder management.

The CST offer

CST is available to international partners as a competent technology and systems partner. Based on over ten years of development work, CST offers in-depth knowledge along the entire value chain of an innovative logistics system – from the system concept to technical implementation to economic and regulatory integration.

In combination with a digital logistics platform, CST enables efficient, city-friendly supply and creates new scope for urban development. It offers a scalable, comprehensive logistics system and is an important future solution for the supply and disposal of urban areas, with the following core competencies:

System and technology expertise
Project development and implementation
Private project financing
Partnership-based business approach.

Technical specifications

The planned tunnel network connects urban centres and logistics locations with hubs for a continuous flow of goods. Privately funded and digitally controlled, it enables flexible use for all customer segments.

The technical characteristics are:

cable-pulled drive located in caverns, using proven rail-guided technology
Movement of standardised transport units (pallet-based) in continuous operation with removable goods carriers
High cycle frequency with continuous flow of goods 24/7
Fully automated loading and unloading with vertical and horizontal conveyor technology
Seamless and flexible integration into existing logistics (warehouse, production and distribution processes)
Modular expansion depending on transport volume.

With this robust, low-maintenance system, CST ensures continuous operation.

Project status

CST has demonstrated the feasibility of the system with the new cable car technology: the system is fully implementable, technically validated and has been confirmed by independent expert committees.

Implementation in Switzerland has not yet been able to begin, as the political and legal safeguards for a purely privately financed infrastructure of this magnitude are still lacking. Although the current legal situation (Federal Act on Underground Goods Transport) allows for private sponsorship, it does not create investment security.

CST is currently focusing on dialogue with the federal government and cantons in order to create reliable framework conditions, as well as on transferring know-how to projects that can be realised in the short term. This also includes international assignments. Switzerland remains a development location; implementation of the tunnel system is to be resumed in due course.