Bern: Building permit for station conversion

The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) has issued the construction permits for the expansion of the public facilities at the SBB station and for the new underground station of Regional Transport Bern-Solothurn (RBS). The total costs for the two construction projects amount to around one billion CHF. According to current planning, the projects will be completed in 2025.

The SBB part includes in particular the construction of a second passenger underpass and the raising of the platform edges to meet the requirements of the Disability Equality Act. The new four-track RBS underground station will be located below the southern tracks of the existing SBB station.

The building applications for the two projects were submitted almost two years ago, and 41 objections to them had been received, according to the FOT. Affected residents and the city of Bern had demanded adjustments and changes to the construction projects. In negotiations, amicable solutions could be found for almost all concerns, the FOT says. Certain issues relating to the installation facilities required for the RBS project in the Laupenstrasse area have not yet been fully resolved. This will be decided later, the FOT continues.

Work on the construction of the new RBS underground station is to start as early as July, after expiry of the appeal period. The expansion of the public facilities of the main station is then to begin in November.