New express tram line to connect Leimental and Basel

A new express tram line has been proposed in Basel, running from Leimental via Margarethenstich to Bahnhof Basel SBB. If the proposals are successful, then the new route will start in 2030.

New Express Tram to reduce journey times by 12 minutes

The local governments of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, transport companies BLT and BVB, and the Automobile Club of Switzerland (ACS) are campaigning for Express Tram 17 to connect Leimental and Basel. S-Tram 17 “will be upgraded to a commuter tram” where passengers “will benefit from shorter travel times and increased reliability”, helping to meet the needs of a growing population in the Leimen Valley, writes BLT in a proposal. 

The express tram will stop once per town and run throughout the day, taking a direct route to Bahnhof Basel SBB, and then on to Wettsteinplatz and Basel Badischer Bahnhof. The route will replace some parts of Line 10 near Leimental. 

The new S-Tram 17 "significantly reduces the journey time between the Leimental communities and Bahnhof Basel SBB” by up to 12 minutes according to BLT, while also improving reliability.

Proposals to be submitted to the Grand Council

The proposal will be submitted to the Grand Council and “in the event of a referendum, unlike in 2017, the voters of Basel-Stadt will have the final say this time”, writes Watson. Basel-Landschaft voters previously rejected a proposal to connect Margarethenstich with Binningen and Basel, whereas this time it would be up to Basel-Stadt.

The project forms part of the 2030 tram network expansion strategy, aiming to reduce traffic and pressure on public transport in the centre of Basel. You can read more about the S-Tram 17 project on BLT’s website.