Switzerland's CHF 800 Million Grimsel Tunnel Project Sparks Debate Over Benefits

A new 22-kilometre tunnel beneath the Grimsel Pass has been added to Switzerland's list of key transport projects. The Federal Council announced the plan but asked the affected cantons to outline how they will maximise its potential. The estimated cost of the single-track, narrow-gauge tunnel stands at CHF 800 million.

The proposed Grimsel Tunnel will connect Oberwald in Valais with Innertkirchen in Bern, with intermediate stops in Guttannen and Handeck. Alongside rail traffic, it will house a high-voltage power line currently routed over the pass. Supporters argue the link will improve winter tourism between the Bernese Oberland and Valais while strengthening job markets in the Goms and Haslital valleys.

Project backers intend to present a detailed cost-benefit analysis this summer. Meanwhile, the Swiss Parliament will decide whether the CHF 800 million investment is justified. The Federal Council has also called on Uri, Valais, and Bern to submit spatial planning and development strategies to leverage the tunnel's economic and regional advantages.

Critics, however, question the project's immediate benefits for passengers. Ueli Stückelberger, Director of the Public Transport Association, suggested that funds might be better spent on initiatives with clearer user impact.

The tunnel's future now rests with Parliament's funding decision. If approved, the project will move forward with input from the cantons on regional integration. The outcome will determine whether the Grimsel Tunnel becomes a reality or remains on hold.