Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), together with the contracted construction firms, has established the construction schedule for the four-lane expansion of the Zurich–Winterthur line, with a total cost of EUR 3.6 billion. The project is financed through the federal government’s railway infrastructure fund, to which the federal government and the cantons, among others, contribute.
With the approval of the construction schedule, work begins on the modernization of the Wallisellen, Dietlikon, Bassersdorf, and Winterthur Töss stations. Preparatory work for the Brütten Tunnel is also underway.
In January 2026, SBB obtained a building permit for the Zurich–Winterthur line project, which will be expanded to four tracks along its entire length, thereby eliminating the bottleneck on one of Switzerland’s busiest railway lines.
However, for the major Zurich–Winterthur project to fully realize its potential for improving rail service, further infrastructure expansions are needed in the Canton of Zurich, such as the modernization of Zurich Stadelhofen Station, track doubling, and platform extensions.
Construction Schedule
For the preparatory work, which will last two months, the construction companies are setting up construction and installation sites, and SBB is preparing the railway technology. Major construction work will begin in the summer of 2026, and after completion of the main infrastructure construction work—according to the current plan in 2037—the facilities will be dismantled.
- For the 9-kilometer-long Brütten Tunnel, consisting of two single-track tunnels, excavation will begin in 2029, and it is expected to open to traffic in 2037.
- As part of the Wallisellen station expansion subproject, work will be carried out to widen the platforms and adapt the access points and underpasses. A new 580-meter-long single-track bridge will be built west of the station. Construction will begin in 2026, with an opening planned for 2031.
- The expansion of the Dietlikon station involves a fourth additional track, new platform access points, a new pedestrian bridge with elevators, and a new station building. Construction begins in 2027, with commissioning planned for the summer of 2032. The Bahnhofstrasse underpass will be rebuilt at a lower level beneath the Dietlikon Tunnel. Construction begins in 2028, with commissioning planned for 2031.
- The expansion of the Bassersdorf station includes two underpasses and step-free access to the platforms. Construction begins in 2027, with commissioning planned for the summer of 2030.
- The expansion of the Winterthur Töss station includes a new underground passage and step-free access; construction begins in 2027, with commissioning planned for late 2028. In the Neumühle area, an 800-meter-long single-track bridge will be built over the existing tracks; construction begins in 2027, with commissioning planned for 2034.
The quadrupling of the Zurich–Winterthur line is the first key element in expanding regional transport services. The Zurich S-Bahn is a model of success, with over 500,000 passengers daily. Passengers will benefit in the long term from the planned 15-minute interval, which will become the standard frequency on the core network of the Zurich S-Bahn. Additionally, in the future, more express trains will be able to run between the two cities.
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