To create better connections to the European high-speed network, the Confederation has so far invested about CHF 1.1 billion in the railway infrastructure. Where it is useful and in Switzerland’s interests, the Confederation has also contributed to funding extensions in neighbouring countries.
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This has shortened journey times between Switzerland and cities such as Paris, Dijon, Munich, Constance and Stuttgart, sometimes significantly, or allowed more frequent services. For example, the journey from Basel or Zurich to Paris is now half an hour quicker than it was in 2011. The journey time from Zurich to Munich has been reduced from 4 hours to around 3 hours and 30 minutes.
This has shortened journey times between Switzerland and cities such as Paris, Dijon, Munich, Constance and Stuttgart, sometimes significantly, or allowed more frequent services. For example, the journey from Basel or Zurich to Paris is now half an hour quicker than it was in 2011. The journey time from Zurich to Munich has been reduced from 4 hours to around 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Expansion of infrastructure and services
While the NRLA (New Rail Link through the Alps) has brought better and faster connections from Switzerland to Milan and Frankfurt, the programme to connect to the high-speed network abroad has optimised travel options to Dijon, Paris, Stuttgart, Constance and Munich. Both investments in Switzerland and investments abroad that are in the country's interest receive funding or support.
- Improvements on the St Gallen–St Margrethen and Sargans–St Margrethen routes and in Germany between Lindau and Geltendorf have reduced journey times to Munich by half an hour.
- Improvements on the line between Zurich and Schaffhausen allow hourly connections to Stuttgart, either direct or with a change in Singen (Htw).
- The line from Delémont via Delle to Belfort has been extended and reopened in France, and there is now a connection to the TGV in Meroux.
- The Rhine–Rhone TGV line, co-financed by Switzerland, went into operation in December 2011, shortening TGV journeys from Basel to Paris by half an hour. Thanks to the construction of the Bellegarde–Bourg-en-Bresse (Haut-Bugey) line, which also received support from Switzerland, trains can travel from Geneva to Paris in just over three hours.
- Upgrades on the Lausanne–Vallorbe line and a contribution to infrastructure modernisation on the Vallorbe/Pontarlier–Frasne–Dole (–Dijon) line have reduced the journey time by around 15 minutes and enabled the use of TGV 2N2 (Euroduplex) trains.
- CHF 25 million has been earmarked in the high-speed network programme to connect Basel–Mulhouse Airport to the rail network. This project will be continued in the 2035 expansion programme.
