The Swiss railway company SBB is assessing the construction of new sidings in the Wetzikon area, as part of the project to expand the Zurich S-Bahn network. The investment is necessary to support the increase in capacity of the suburban rail system envisaged under the 2035 development phase and to ensure the efficient operation of the new trains.
SBB has informed the local authorities in Wetzikon that the Binzacher site, located near Kempten station, is one of the locations being considered for the development of additional stabling facilities. The area is being assessed for mixed-use development, meaning that the rail infrastructure could be integrated with residential, commercial or other urban functions.
The need for new stabling lines stems from the rail infrastructure development programme up to 2035, which will bring additional S-Bahn trains into service, totalling approximately 9 km in length. These trains must be parked near their operating areas to avoid empty runs on an already heavily utilised suburban network. Outside peak hours, some trains are temporarily taken out of service, and services are operated with shorter trains.
New capacity for additional trains
The municipality of Wetzikon has taken note of SBB’s request, but has emphasised that the Binzacher site is already the subject of major urban development projects, both public and private. For this reason, the local authorities have asked the railway company to set out the reasons behind the choice of location and to demonstrate that other options have been considered.
Landowners in the affected area have been informed of the project’s current status and will continue to be involved in the consultation process.
The town of Wetzikon and SBB have agreed to coordinate the next steps so as to strike a balance between the needs of public transport development and the urban development plans for the Binzacher area.
The Zurich S-Bahn network forms the backbone of suburban rail transport in the canton of Zurich and is one of the busiest networks of its kind in Europe. The planned expansion, due to be completed by 2035, aims to increase capacity, reduce journey times and meet the growing demand for public transport in the Zurich metropolitan area.
Share on: 
