Advertisement

Work on new Zurich streetcar line set to begin

Malcolm Curtis
Malcolm Curtis - [email protected]
Work on new Zurich streetcar line set to begin
Rendering of what the new tram line will look like with the Hardbrücke and Prime Tower in the background. Photo: City of Zurich

Work is set to begin in May next year on a 130-million-franc ($134-million) streetcar line in the city of Zurich after voters approved funding from the canton.

Advertisement

More than 66 percent of citizens on Sunday backed the cantonal share of 76.4 million francs for the Hardbrucke tram line to serve Zurich West, despite a campaign against the project led by socialist party politicians who argued it was too costly.

An infrastructure fund supported by the federal government is being tapped for 45.4 million francs and city of Zurich is kicking in 7.8 million francs, the city said.

Jointly managed by the city and the canton, the new line will extend tram line 8 from Hardplatz via the Hardbrücke road bridge across a set of railway tracks to the Hardbrücke train station and on to Werdhölzli via Escher-Wysss Platz.

Construction is expected to be complete in 2017.

The line is one of several transit projects to serve the fast-growing Zurich West area, a former industrial area that is being redeveloped with such buildings as the Prime Tower, a 126-metre-high office building that is currently the tallest in Switzerland.

The city on its website hailed the “resounding yes” given to the project by voters, saying that it underlines the importance of public transport in Zurich.

But two days after the vote, the city-owned transit authority VBZ was grappling on Tuesday morning with a case of sabotage.

City police said a group of individuals vandalized 100 transit vending machines by pouring paint into slots for coins and credit cards, rendering them impossible to use.

Police believe several people committed the acts between midnight and 4.30am and that they used motorized vehicles, 20 Minuten reported.

An initial estimate of the damage was 100,000 francs.

Police have issued an appeal for witnesses and VBZ has filed a criminal complaint.
 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also