Grimsel tunnel priority angers French-speaking lawmakers

Switzerland’s planned Grimsel tunnel has been ranked a federal priority ahead of improvements to the busy Lausanne-Geneva rail line, drawing criticism from French-speaking lawmakers. SRF reported that the government based its priorities for 2027 on a study by ETH Zurich.

The proposed 22-kilometre tunnel beneath the Grimsel Pass would link the Bernese Oberland with the upper Valais and carry both a railway and a high-voltage power line. The project is planned to precede a partial double-track upgrade between Lausanne and Geneva, which has recurring disruptions and is not listed as a priority until 2031.

Green Party lawmaker Sophie Michaud Gigon of Vaud said in a motion that the Lake Geneva region should not have to wait. She called the lack of investment in redundancy on the Lausanne-Geneva route extremely frustrating and said she did not consider the Grimsel tunnel a national priority.

Philippe Nantermod, a Liberal lawmaker from Valais, argued that the tunnel would connect two sparsely populated valleys, serve mainly private and tourist traffic, and cost a fortune. Federal Councillor Albert Rösti said the priority decision was based on the ETH Zurich study, rather than being his own choice.

Obergoms municipal president Patric Zimmermann defended the project, saying the estimated cost of 800 million francs includes the electricity transmission section, which would be financed by Swissgrid and therefore reduce the federal contribution.

A recent report by the Swiss Federal Audit Office questioned the project’s value, concluding that even if construction were free, operating the tunnel would cost society more than it would bring in. The report called it an evident case of inefficient use of public funds.

In Innertkirchen, on the other side of the pass, municipal president Lorenz Moor said the report did not account for the benefits of better transport links. He described the project as important for retaining residents and preventing population decline in the valley.

The public consultation ends in early October. Members of parliament will then decide among the projects.