SBB announces billion-franc expansion of Geneva railway station

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has confirmed that the main station in Geneva will undergo a massive expansion in the near future. The public transport provider said 2 billion francs will be spent on modernising Geneva Cornavin, in a bid to expand capacity and improve amenities.

The main station in Geneva is at capacity, SBB explains

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, SBB head Vincent Ducrot announced that Geneva station will be expanded to cater to more trains and create larger spaces for passengers, shops and other facilities. The project will see Cornavin completely redesigned with new passageways, underground sections and concourse areas.

"This project is important for Geneva and western Switzerland," Ducrot added. Currently, the station is the third busiest in Switzerland welcoming around 171.000 passengers every day, but following the launch and expansion of the Léman-Express - Geneva’s S-Bahn network - the station cannot cater to any more trains.

What will the expanded station in Geneva look like?

To handle the problem, the expansion will include the addition of new underground platforms. These will be connected to the mainline between the airport and the rest of Switzerland, serving as an expanded artery for local and regional services similar to platforms 31 to 34 in Zurich, which opened back in 2014. 

A new mezzanine floor will make it easier to access platforms and travel from the south to the north of the station, 44 entrances will be created or redesigned, and the existing underpasses and facilities will be completely revamped. In all, the plans will triple the space given to passengers in the station. Here's what passengers should expect:

Video: SBB CFF FFS / YouTube

Expanded Geneva station to cost 2 billion Swiss francs

Though planning budget cuts in other areas, the federal government will provide the majority of the funding for the expansion of Geneva Cornavin. Of the estimated cost of 2 billion francs, 77 percent will be paid by federal authorities, compared to 16 percent by Canton Geneva and 7 percent by the city itself. Officials explained that both the canton and the city had called for a more expensive version of the plan to be put forward, hence why they will pay some of the cost.

However, it will be some time before Genevans see the benefit of the plan. The project itself will now be further refined, with construction expected to begin in 2030. If all goes well, the fully expanded station will be opened in 2039.