Swiss Federal Railways will build a second track between Opfikon-Riet and Kloten and make Opfikon station barrier-free as part of a CHF 77 million upgrade on the Zurich airport corridor. The project is designed to pave the way for quarter-hour regional service between Zurich HB and Kloten and to expand freight capacity on the line.
How will this impact you? There will be diversions, cancellations, and timetable changes from 23 May to 15 June 2026, for long-distance and regional services between Zurich HB and Winterthur, and from June 15 to July 3, 2026, for regional services.
Construction began in November 2024 and is expected to continue until the end of 2026.
SBB said most of the work will take place during normal daytime operations, with night closures and some weekend interruptions in 2025 and 2026, and a three-week full line shutdown is planned for early summer 2026.
The 1.6-kilometre stretch between Opfikon-Riet and Kloten is currently the last single-track section on the route between Zurich and Kloten, according to SBB. The new double track is part of the federal STEP 2035 rail expansion programme.
Alongside the track works, SBB will rebuild Kloten Balsberg station so passengers can board and leave trains without steps. The project includes a new and extended platform, redesigned access routes and a completely new pedestrian underpass, while the station at Opfikon will also be adapted for barrier-free access.
The wider scheme also includes bridge alterations, new retaining walls, track and points work, and replacement of existing noise barriers along the route.
Funding will come mainly from the federal government, with contributions from Opfikon, Kloten, Zurich Airport, the Federal Roads Office and the canton of Zurich.
