Devastated security gate

Right at the point where the two Alptransit tunnels cross over, near Faido, a freight train derailed on Thursday, tearing up large sections of the underground track bed. Several hazardous materials wagons at the rear of the train became uncoupled. Although they were not full, they still contained hazardous materials within the risk category.

“This deeply saddens us,” said Rudolf Büchi, Vice President of SBB Infrastructure. “We had hoped that something like this would never happen.” At a hastily arranged press conference in Bellinzona, photos of the accident site, which is the subject of a thorough investigation, were presented. Rail traffic is currently being diverted via the mountain route, which has about a third less capacity. The line is expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday.

Graphic: SBB

At the northern multifunctional junction near Faido, where a switch is also located, speeds of up to 100 km/h are permitted. The freight train, consisting of 32 wagons, was traveling northbound. According to Büchi, the switch in question, where a total of 23 wagons subsequently derailed, acted like a wedge, causing considerable damage right up to the safety gate connecting the two tunnel tubes, even partially breaching it.

Footage shows a debris field littered with cargo scattered over a wide area. The track at the switch is almost completely destroyed. Büchi: "Considerable forces must have been at work." Rails were torn up, and following wagons ended up in the track bed. The torsional forces also caused the rear section of the train to decouple or break free.

Photos: SBB

The next step is to determine whether the unaffected parallel tunnel can be reopened by repairing the safety bulkhead using welding work. "We are 2,000 meters below the mountaintop," Büchi explained, appealing for understanding, "and cannot use heavy equipment here." It will take some time. Fortunately, the accident site near Faido is accessible via the so-called "intermediate access point" there.

Isabelle Betschart Kühne, member of the management board and head of production at SBB Cargo: "We can divert most of it via the mountain route – but at least 30 percent less.".

Büchi: "We will be working flat out over the weekend." The Street Parade in Zurich may have a few fewer participants. Or at least quite a few, who will have to make do with standing room on the train via the mountain pass route through Andermatt. Construction work is taking place at the Brenner Pass, which could serve as a possible alternative route for intra-European freight traffic via Austria – the Alpine crossing will be closed there until August 23, according to Büchi.

Could it have been a passenger train? Büchi: "Monitoring systems are installed which – as in the Lötschberg Tunnel – check the entire train before it enters the tunnel and sound an alarm in case of any irregularities. (...) Of course, there is always a small residual risk that cannot be ruled out." The track itself was in good condition, as regular inspections are carried out there as well. The investigation is currently focusing on the rolling stock. The train was exclusively transporting transit freight between Germany and Italy.

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