Bern Station Expansion: 2026 Construction Update

Bern’s main railway station undergoes a massive CHF 1 billion expansion, adding underground platforms and improving passenger flow to handle surging commuter numbers by 2030. This Railway Sector News update covers the project’s phases and technological advancements.

Bern Station Expansion: 2026 Construction Update
July 27, 2017 3:44 pm
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Project Profile: Bern Station Expansion (Zukunft Bahnhof Bern)

The Bern Station Expansion is a landmark infrastructure project designed to fundamentally re-engineer Switzerland’s second-busiest railway hub for future capacity demands. This multi-phase undertaking addresses a projected surge in passenger volume to over 375,000 daily commuters by 2030 through the strategic construction of new underground platforms, enhanced pedestrian accessways, and the integration of next-generation railway control systems.

Project Fact Sheet

Attribute Details
Project Name Bern Station Expansion (Zukunft Bahnhof Bern)
Location Bern, Switzerland
Key Components New 4-track underground RBS station; new primary pedestrian underpass (Unterführung Mitte); SBB station lateral expansion.
Estimated Cost CHF 1.067 billion (approx. $1.15 billion USD)
Status (Late 2025) Phase 1 Nearing Completion; Phase 2 Planned (post-2025)
Key Stakeholders & Contractors Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Regional Bern-Solothurn (RBS), City of Bern, Canton of Bern, Basler & Hoffman (Engineering)

Technical Specifications

The core of the project involves extensive subterranean construction. A new, four-track underground station for the Regional Bern-Solothurn (RBS) railway lies at the heart of the expansion, featuring 190-meter platforms to accommodate longer trainsets. Construction required sophisticated geotechnical engineering and cut-and-cover tunneling methods to minimize surface disruption and ensure the stability of surrounding urban structures. This is connected by a critical new pedestrian underpass, linking the SBB and RBS platforms with new entrances at Bubenberg Centre and Länggasse to radically improve passenger flow. The project scope includes the integration of modern digital signaling systems to manage increased train frequency, upgrades to existing infrastructure like the Perron ceiling, and the construction of a 1km connecting tunnel from Deer Park to the new station, which also houses a new emergency exit. All new platforms are standardized for level boarding to enhance accessibility.

Key Takeaways

  • Future-Proofs Capacity: The expansion is engineered to accommodate a massive increase in passenger traffic, increasing daily capacity from 60,000 to a projected 375,000, securing Bern’s role as a critical national transport node.
  • Streamlines Urban Mobility: The new central pedestrian underpass is a strategic choke-point solution, projected to be used by 44% of passengers to significantly reduce transfer times and station congestion.
  • Phased, Multi-Stakeholder Execution: The project demonstrates a complex but effective collaboration between federal (SBB), regional (RBS), and municipal partners, with a phased approach that minimizes operational disruption during its multi-year construction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the new Bern station be finished?

The first and most significant phase, which includes the new underground RBS station and the main pedestrian underpass, is scheduled for completion and commissioning in 2025. Further expansion phases focusing on the main SBB station are planned to continue towards 2035.

Who is building the Bern station expansion?

The Bern station expansion is a major collaborative project. It is led by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Regional Bern-Solothurn (RBS), in close partnership with the City of Bern and the Canton of Bern who are providing significant funding and logistical support. The engineering firm Basler & Hoffman is a key contractor responsible for the shell construction.