Limmattalbahn can be built

The project, which has been approved by the FOT, involves a new double-track line in the Limmat Valley between the stations of Zurich-Altstetten and Killwangen-Spreitenbach. The new railroad will serve a total of 27 new stops in four municipalities in the canton of Zurich and two in the canton of Aargau along the 13.4 km route. The investment amounts to CHF 715 million, plus the cost of rolling stock procurement and the depot. The railroad is being financed by the cantons of Zurich and Aargau and by the federal government.

"Increased location attractiveness"

The Limmattalbahn is intended to serve as a new fast "fine distributor" between the existing services of the S-Bahn and the bus network and provide optimal access to the Limmattal, the FOT said in a statement. The new service should give the region a further boost and make it more attractive as a location, as well as promoting settlement development throughout the Limmattal.

With the planning approval order, the construction project has been approved by the court of first instance. This concludes the approval process that began a good three years ago. In 196 objections to the main project and in 56 objections to four project amendments, the objectors requested that the application of Limmattalbahn AG (LTB) not be approved, or they demanded adjustments and amendments to the project. In negotiations, amicable solutions were found in about 70 percent of the cases, the FOT reports. However, opponents of the Limmattalbahn still have legal recourse to the Federal Administrative Court.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway at Limmattalbahn AG for the start of construction of the first stage, which is scheduled for September 2017. This stage covers the section from Farbhof in Zürich-Altstetten to Schlieren Geissweid and is scheduled to go into operation in 2019. The second stage from Schlieren to Killwangen-Spreitenbach will be built from 2019 to 2022.