Ground-breaking ceremony for the new Zugerberg railway line

03.02.2022 | Construction of the new route of the Zugerberg railway begins. The Board of Directors, management and representatives of the construction companies celebrate the start of the work of the century at the ground-breaking ceremony. From 7 February 2022, the Zugerberg Railway will be at a standstill for a good ten months.

The track has withstood the weather and the strain of the railway for 114 years. Now it's time for a renewal. Vroni Straub, President of the Board of Directors of the Zugerberg Railway, opened the ground-breaking ceremony with the words: "After an intensive and detailed planning phase, things are finally getting underway. I would like to thank all the partners involved for their commitment to our Zugerberg Railway." Philipp Hofmann, Managing Director of the Zugerberg Railway and Head of Market at ZVB, emphasised the importance of this construction project for Zug and the surrounding area. The new elevated railway line will ensure stable access to the Zugerberg for local residents, the Montana Institute and recreational visitors for decades to come.

Challenging construction work on the mountain

The work on the sometimes steep terrain is challenging. With the companies Landis Bau AG from Zug and Hodel AG from Baar, the construction work is being carried out by two local and extremely experienced specialists. The steel elements are being manufactured by Garaventa in Goldau. The new elevated track will run in the same place as today. Suitable passages will be created for wildlife crossing. There is a clear focus on nature-friendly construction. The project team is being supported by a construction biologist in order to take due account of the special landscape and natural environment. For example, materials will be deliberately supplied by a specially constructed material cableway in order to keep the work as gentle as possible.

Access to the Zugerberg during the construction period

Construction work will begin on 7 February 2022 and will be completed by the timetable change in December 2022. During the construction period, the access function for Zugerberg residents and the Institut Montana as well as the transport of guests will be ensured with replacement buses. Capacity is limited and group bookings are only partially possible. The railway replacement runs from the Schönegg valley station via Geissbodenstrasse. With the exception of these replacement buses, a general driving ban will apply on Geissbodenstrasse during the entire construction period due to the construction site traffic. The timetable for the railway replacement can be found on the Zugerberg Railway website.

Current information
We provide ongoing information about the current work via Facebook, Instgram, on the project website zbb.ch/trassee or in the information container at the Schönegg valley station.