The railway line between Opfikon-Riet and Kloten is currently single-track over a length of 1.6 kilometers. In order to introduce a quarter-hourly service between Zurich HB and Kloten as part of the 2035 expansion step, the SBB must lay a second track. This expansion to double-track, costing around 77 million Swiss francs, is part of the federal government’s 2035 expansion step. The double track will also allow for the planned expansion of sustainable freight transport by rail.
In addition to the construction of the new 1.6-kilometer track, the SBB is upgrading all bridges along the entire route for double-track operation: the Riethofstrasse underpass, the Balz-Zimmermannstrasse underpass, and the N20 (A51) highway bridge. Furthermore, retaining walls, tracks, and switches will be adjusted, and existing noise barriers will be replaced with new ones.
SBB is making the Kloten Balsberg station barrier-free
In parallel with the double-track expansion, the SBB is renovating the Kloten Balsberg station. The existing platform currently does not provide barrier-free access to the trains. Thanks to the construction of a new and extended platform, passengers will be able to board and alight low-floor trains without steps in the future. Access to the platforms will also be adjusted, and the existing pedestrian underpass will be completely rebuilt. The construction work is set to begin in mid-November 2024 and is expected to last until the end of 2026.
The work will primarily take place during daytime operations, as well as during track closures at night and on certain weekends in the years 2025/2026. A three-week total closure will be unavoidable in early summer 2026. Depending on the construction phase, residents will be affected differently by the work that the SBB must carry out at night. The SBB will inform affected residents in advance and minimize emissions as much as possible.
The project costs around 77 million Swiss francs, with the majority of the funding coming from the federal government’s STEP 2035 expansion step, while the remaining portion is covered by third parties (Opfikon municipality, Kloten city, Zurich Airport, Federal Office of Roads, and Canton of Zurich).
Other projects in the Opfikon/Kloten area
Until spring 2025, work is still ongoing on the new signal box at Kloten station. This will also involve occasional night work and restrictions in the late evening. In early 2025, work will begin on replacing the “Schaffhauserstrasse” road bridge, southeast of Kloten station over the railway tracks. Traffic will need to be redirected over a temporary bridge during construction. The SBB will provide further information on this project at a later date. In early 2026, the renovation of Opfikon station for step-free access will follow. The goal is to coordinate all projects in the Kloten area, utilize synergies such as total closures, and carry out work simultaneously to minimize impacts on passengers and residents.
For more information on the planned construction work, visit the SBB project page for the Opfikon-Kloten double-track expansion.
