[AMcWhirter]

For those readers who might be planning a rail trip to Italy (either from the UK or from within mainland Europe) I thought you ought to know that two major links will be closed/suffer disruption for much longer than anticipated.

One route is Paris-Turin-Milan (via Modane) which has become increasingly popular with corporate travellers thanks in part to Trenitalia’s high-speed Frecciarossa trains.

When I originally started this thread it was thought the landslide (which had blocked the section through the Alps) would be closed for two months.

Now the authorities say it will remain closed until summer 2024.

SNCF needs to focus more on its customers

The other route, also popular with business and leisure travellers alike, is the one linking Zurich-Milan via the new Gotthard tunnel.

It’s also a main route for freight trains running to and from Italy. Regular cargo trains operating all day and night.

What happened is that a freight train became derailed in the new Gotthard tunnel recently and there will be disruption until September 2024.

I say “disruption” because a limited number of trains will begin running over one track in the new tunnel. Other services may be diverted over the classic Gotthard route which is scenic but adds to journey time. But this *may* impact journey times.

Check schedules on Rail.ch

See Swiss Rail alert below [FR].

Die Schäden im Gotthard-Basistunnel sind gravierend. Er steht ab September 2024 wieder vollständig zur Verfügung. Absicht der SBB ist, dass ab Fahrplanwechsel am Wochenende deutlich mehr und schnellere Reisezüge durch den Tunnel verkehren als heute. https://t.co/2ErBJBOPQV

— SBB Medienstelle (@sbbnews) November 2, 2023

[AMcWhirter]

Both these main rail links between France and Italy remain disrupted.

Worse affected and likely to be closed until autumn 2024 is the main Paris-Turin route via Modane.

It’s a route where SNCF competes with Trenitalia and is considered the most vital.

An SNCF executive issued this X/tweet today which shows the size of the land slide which covers the mainline.

[Eboulement en #Maurienne]

Les travaux se poursuivent pour une réouverture prévue cet automne⏳

Plusieurs opérations sont en cours : zoom sur les purges et forages réalisés ces derniers jours par les équipes du Département de la Savoie @SavoieDepart 👇📷 https://t.co/tRzhpqyf3i pic.twitter.com/cPntfkaJbl

— Béatrice Leloup (@BeatriceLeloup) March 14, 2024

[LuganoPirate]

The best time to travel is at the weekend, when one line is opened to passenger traffic. Priority has to be given to freight during the week as this is now a vital connection for EU rail freight traffic moving North – South (and vv) and the EU did contribute EUR 2 billion towards the construction.

Part of the problem is the SBB do not have enough sleepers in reserve to repair the apprx. 7 kms of damaged track, and some of these they have to keep in store for other essential maintenance work. Though the factory producing them is working flat out, they can still only repair about 300 meters a week, so it is a very long and costly job.

Coupled with Swiss discontinuing Lugano – Zurich / Geneva flights, this has really prolonged travel time for residents of canton Ticino.

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cwoodward

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