Following a consultation procedure, the government announced Wednesday a revised CHF11.9 billion ($11.8 billion) plan, up from an initial budget of CHF11.5 billion, to be implemented by 2035. The Swiss Parliament will review the plan next year.
The new package would include direct train connections between Basel, Delémont and Geneva, as well as an expansion of service across the Jura. Technical railway equipment for the second tube of the Lötschberg base tunnel, which runs from the Bernese Oberland into canton Valais, would also be included to help increase capacity for freight trains as well as numbers of passenger trains.
Improvements to service in the Geneva-Lausanne-Yverdon-Biel and Soleure-Olten-Zurich-Winterthur regions aim to reinforce train capacities, reduce overload, and offer service every quarter- to half-hour.
There are also plans to develop the train stations themselves, to ameliorate overcrowding and adapt infrastructure to improve accessibility for passengers with disabilities, notably in Morges and Basel.
Most over-65s in Switzerland regularly use the internet
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The digital divide is narrowing faster than expected in Switzerland. A study published on Wednesday reveals that nine out of ten over-65s use the internet.
Will Swiss president be forbidden from speaking English to counterparts?
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Switzerland's president, Karin Keller-Sutter, should use one of the country's four national languages when communicating with international organisations, and not English, according to a motion that passed on Wednesday.
Canton Valais gives CHF10 million to Blatten after devastating landslide
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Canton Valais is releasing CHF10 million ($12.1 million) in emergency funds for the mountain village of Blatten, which was wiped out by a devastating glacier collapse last week.
Elderly Swiss-Tunisian man held in prison in Tunisia
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An 81-year-old Swiss-Tunisian dual national is being held in a Tunisian prison. The former manager of the UN refugee agency UNHCR was arrested a year ago, according to Amnesty International.
Major traffic jams expected in Switzerland for Whitsun weekend
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Long traffic jams can be expected near the Gotthard Tunnel, the main north-south transalpine route in Switzerland, on Friday and Saturday afternoons due to the Whitsun holiday.
Swiss defence minister launches probe into alleged spy links with Russia
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Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister has launched an investigation into the alleged disclosure of sensitive information by the cyber division of the Federal Intelligence Service to Russia.
PFAS-contaminated meat still sold in eastern Switzerland
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Meat containing excessive levels of toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" produced by farms in canton St Gallen is still being sold.
Violations in Gaza by ‘both sides’ must be condemned, says Swiss minister
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Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has admitted that Israel is failing in its obligations by hindering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
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Swiss train passengers to surf internet for free from 2019
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The Swiss Federal Railways will begin introducing free internet surfing based on 3G/4G mobile coverage on trains by the end of next year.
World’s steepest funicular puts Stoos back on the tourist map
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Straight up to the top of the mountain: the Stoos funicular railway gives you the steepest ascent of its kind in the world.
Spike seen in number of train drivers running red lights
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According to a Sunday report in SonntagsZeitung, train conductors have never ignored as many traffic lights as they did in 2017.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.