Based on the vision «Zukunftsbild ÖV 2050», VBZ worked with external teams to design the public transport system of the future on the drawing board. We present the Network Development Strategy 2040.
The future of Zurich’s public transport is taking shape: following on from the ‘Vision 2050’, which was developed in 2021 based on your wishes and opinions, three milestones from 2040 onwards have been formulated. These milestones are summarised under the title ‘Network Development Strategy 2040’ and show where Zurich’s mobility is headed in the future.
What is ‘Network Development 2040’?
Zurich is growing, and so are the demands on public transport. This growth was most recently taken into account with the Network Development Strategy 2030. This resulted in the extension of line 2, the Hardbrücke tram connection and the extension of lines 70, 184 and 185 to Wollishofen station. The Affoltern tram project is also under way.
Meanwhile, Zurich continues to change. First and foremost, it is growing, especially on the outskirts of the city and in the new centres in Altstetten and Oerlikon.
In order to be able to provide the necessary capacity as well as punctual, efficient and customer-friendly public transport in the future, we are setting the course now.
In the 1st stage of the Network Development Strategy 2040, the urban public transport network will be expanded primarily in Zurich's growth areas:
Expansion of the Rehalp tram turning loop
New construction of the Hermetschloo tram turning loop
Capacity expansion of the «Bahnhofbrücke»
Tram Affoltern (already part of the Network Development Strategy 2030)
Tram tangent north (presented on 21.8.2023)
Tram connection Altried – Wallisellen/Dübendorf
Outer ring, first step consisting of
o Tram connection to Altstetten station and
o Tram link Hardturm
New trolley infrastructure for lines 69 and 80
Expansion of trolley infrastructure to enable trolley bus operation in the following sections:
o Winzerstrasse – Unterengstringe
o Rautistrasse – Dunkelhölzli
o Milchbuck – Irchel
o ETH Hönggerberg – Mühlacker/Waidhof
o Wollishofen – Adliswil
The new infrastructure opens up new possibilities in line network design.
Apart from various new routes in connection with the tram network in the city centre (lines 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17), the following significant service adjustments are planned in the tram network in connection with the new infrastructures:
Extension of line 4 via Badenerstrasse to Hermetschloo
Extension of line 6 via Badenerstrasse to Altstetten station
Extension of line 8 to Altstetten Nord station
Extension of line 11 to Holzerhurd (replacement of line 32 on this section)
Extension of line 15 to Auzelg (replacement of line 11 between Brunnenhof and Auzelg)
New tram line "N" on the northern tangent between Holzerhurd – Oerlikon station – Stettbach station
Extension of line 9 from Altried to Wallisellen/Dübendorf
New tram line "H" during rush hour from Wollishofen via Enge, Bellvue, Hochschulen to the main station
In the bus network, the 2040 target network allows for the following adjustments:
Frequency increase of line 70 and connection with line 151 to Adliswil, Bahnhof
Extension of line 72 from Wollishofen to Adliswil, Bahnhof (replacement for line 184)
Reorganisation of bus services in the Altstetten area
o Line 31 runs from Altstetten station to Dunkelhölzli (replacement of line 78 on this section)
o Line 35 will be extended from Altstetten station to Werdhölzli (replacement of line 78 on this section)
o Conversion of line 80 to trolleybus operation
o Line 83 will be extended from Altstetten station to Hermetschloo (replacement of line 31 on this section)
o Line 89 will run to Unterengstringen, Sennenbüel (replacement of line 304) and now via Rautistrasse and Altstetterstrasse to the centre of Altstetten. Additionally, this line will be converted into a trolleybus operation.
Continuation of line 89 to Unterengstringen, Sennenbüel (replacement of line 304)
Conversion of line 89 to trolleybus operation with continuation of line 89 to Unterengstringen
Extension of trolleybus lines from Milchbuck to Irchel University
Routing of line 32 from Bucheggplatz to ETH Hönggerberg (instead of Holzerhurd), later (with tram tangent north) extension from ETH Hönggerberg to Waidhof and Mühlacker (replacement of bus lines 37, 61 and 62)
Conversion of line 69 to trolleybus
Routing of line 75 directly to Auzelg
Routing of line 787 via Auzelg Ost
Examination of the routing of a municipal bus line Birch-/Glattalstrasse to the airport as well as possible adjustments to the Seebach West bus network
The time sequence until the implementation of a network element results from the usual time required for planning and project management of public transport infrastructure, its complexity, the previous planning status and dependencies on other network elements. The investments required for the realisation of the target network in 2040 amount to CHF 420 to 580 million (+/- 50%), depending on the choice of route and the complexity of the detailed projects to be implemented. Below is an overview of the respective schedules of the planned new network elements of the target network 2040 (1st stage NES 2040) and the estimated costs.
Tram tangent north
o 2024: Start of the preliminary study with variant decision; Any adaptation of the structure plan, subsequent project planning (probably by the end of the 2020s)
o From 2030: Implementation
o 2034: Commissioning
New catenary infrastructure for lines 69 and 80
o 2020s: Driving forward project planning and implementation
Tram Altried – Wallisellen/Dübendorf
o 2024: Feasibility study
o From 2025: Preliminary study, followed by project planning
o From 2031: Implementation
o 2036: Commissioning
Tram connection Altstetten train station
o 2024: Overall traffic preliminary study for the tram connection at Altstetten station
o From 2025: Inclusion in the structure plan, preliminary study, project planning
o From 2028: Implementation
o 2040: Commissioning
Tram link Hardturm
o From 2029: Preliminary study, project planning, realization, commissioning
New catenary infrastructure for various routes
o 2030s: Preliminary study, project planning, realization, commissioning
The sub-areas of the Network Development Strategy 2040
Expansion of public transport in the northern part of the region
Challenges
The envisaged polycentricity requires a high-quality connection between the three city centres of downtown Zurich, Oerlikon, Altstetten and a good connection to the individual centres themselves.
In recent years, significant settlement developments have taken place in Zurich-Nord that have not yet been completed (especially in Schwamendingen, Affoltern and Seebach)
In the neighbouring agglomeration municipalities, a comparable dynamic in settlement development can be observed, with the boundaries between urban and agglomeration becoming increasingly blurred. Zurich Airport also has a central effect
Need for action for public transport
Due to the growth in Zurich-North, more capacity must be made available to meet the increasing demand and meet the city's modal split targets.
Specifically, the radial service at the Oerlikon center is to be strengthened. It is becoming apparent that even high-demand connections within Zurich North, which are currently mainly provided by urban bus lines, will soon reach their capacity limits.
In addition, the connection to the city centre of Altstetten, to the agglomeration - especially to the airport - and to the training and employment centres of Irchel University and ETH Hönggerberg must be improved.
Measures in the northern sub-region
Short-term
Tram Affoltern
Routing of line 11 from Brunnenhof to Holzerhurd
Extension of line 15 Bucheggplatz – Auzelg as a replacement for line 11
Routing of line 32 from Bucheggplatz to ETH Hönggerberg
Stage 1
Tramtangente Nord: In the eastern part of the Tramtangente Nord, two routes are conceivable and must be more closely looked at as part of a potential and feasibility study following the network development strategy. In the first variant, the route on Wallisellenstrasse and Überlandstrasse is planned. In addition, it is intended to implement the Wallisellen tram in connection with the Tramtangente Nord on the Überlandstrasse in order to improve the network between Schwamendingen and Wallisellen through a new connection without changing trains. In the second variant, the route of the Tramtangente Nord on Wallisellenstrasse and Saatlenstrasse is planned. Regardless of the decision on the variant for the northern tram tangent, the route of an urban bus line Birch-/Glattalstrasse to the airport and any adjustments to the Seebach West bus network are to be examined in stage 1. This would allow a new direct connection from the Seebach district to the airport.
New tram line from Holzerhurd to Stettbach station via Oerlikon station (mostly as a replacement for bus lines 61 and 62)
Extension of line 9 to Wallisellen station
Extension of line 32 to Waidhof and Mühlacker as a replacement for lines 37, 61 and 62
Route of line 75 directly to Auzelg
Route of line 787 now via Auzelg
An Auzelg Ost bus bridge and adjustments to various bus lines.
Stage 2
In stage 2, the construction of the inner ring is planned, which will result in adjustments to the offer in the northern sub-region. This means that two new tram lines will run from Zurich West to the northern region.
Stage 3
Stage 3 envisages the further development of the Outer Ring, which will strengthen the connection between Oerlikon, ETH Hönggerberg, Höngg and Altstetten. In addition, the extension of the tram from Seebach via Opfikon to Kloten and others to the airport is included. Both network elements have an impact on the design of services.
In the city centre, the existing route and transport capacities are reaching their limits due to the already very dense service
In the area of universities/university hospital, developments are planned in the coming years that will create additional traffic needs in this area
The situation is similar in the Irchel campus area, where expansions are also planned
Need for action for public transport
Due to the almost exhausted route capacities in the city centre, relief of the centre is necessary.
Tangential connections must be strengthened in order to offer attractive alternatives that avoid the city centre
The connection between the universities and university hospital area is to be improved (capacity expansion)
The existing infrastructure is to be used efficiently
In line with the better development of the Lengg health cluster in the eastern sub-region, new approaches to line connections in the city centre are necessary
Measures in the Central Sub-Area
Short-term
Various line adjustments in the southern tram network, including an additional tram line during peak hours between Stadelhofen station and Rehalp
Stage 1
New tram line from the main station via Hochschulen – Bellevue – Bahnhof Enge – Wollishofen. This increases the pressure for an increase in the capacity of the «Bahnhofbrücke» for public transport. In addition, there are adjustments to the tram network in the city centre.
Line 2 runs from Bellevue to Klusplatz and replaces line 8 in this section
Line 4 runs from Bellevue to Rehalp and replaces line 8 in this section
Line 5 will run from Enge via Paradeplatz to Stadelhofen station and will be extended to Rehalp during rush hour
Line 6 will be extended from the main station via Stauffacher to Letzigrund and later to Hermetschloo or Altstetten station
Line 8 will now run via Enge station instead of Paradeplatz; from Bellevue the line runs to Fluntern or on Sundays to Zoo
Extension of line 10 from main station to Enge station (Mon to Sat during the day until 8 p.m.)
Line 11 runs from Bellevue to Tiefenbrunnen and replaces line 2 in this section
Line 15 runs from Bellevue to Tiefenbrunnen station and replaces line 4 in this section
Line 17 runs during rush hour from Bahnhofquai via Paradeplatz – Selnau station – Stauffacher to Wiedikon station
Adjustments to the bus network are planned for this purpose. For example, the trolleybus lines from Milchbuck to the University of Irchel will be extended, line 32 will be extended to ETH Hönggerberg during rush hour and line 69 will be converted to trolleybus
Stage 2
In stage 2, the implementation of the superordinate network element Inner Ring is planned in the central sub-area. As part of the network development strategy, two basic characteristics were developed: the above-ground route along Rosengartenstrasse and Bucheggstrasse and an underground route via Wipkingen railway station, Schaffhauserplatz and Irchel University. A decision on the variant will be made as part of the municipal process for the Rosengarten axis. Regardless of the decision on the variant at the Rosengarten, the connection to the University of Irchel is to be improved with a tram connection.
Stage 3
In stage 3, the implementation of the main station/Central master plan is planned in the Central sub-area, with which the stops and tram routes in this area are to be partially reorganised. This will allow adjustments to the routes in the city centre.
The Lengg health cluster creates additional traffic needs in this area.
Settlement developments are planned in the Witikon area
Need for action for public transport
The necessary capacities must be made available in the public transport network for the Lengg health cluster.
Measures in the East sub-area
The adjustments made to the tram network in the city centre in the Mitte sub-area have a direct positive impact on the East sub-region.
Short-term
Various line adjustments in the southern tram network, including an additional tram line during peak hours between Stadelhofen station and Rehalp
Stage 1
Stabilisation and demand-based capacity increase of bus line 31 on the main station – Klusplatz – Witikon corridor
Other measures include
o Routing of line 2 from Bellevue to Klusplatz, as a replacement for line 8 in this section
o Routing of line 4 from Bellevue to Rehalp, as a replacement for line 11 in this section
o Routing of line 5 from Bellevue to Stadelhofen station, as well as extension during rush hour to Rehalp
o Line 8 will now run via Enge station instead of Paradeplatz, from Bellevue it will run to Fluntern, or on Sundays to Zoo and replace line 5 between Enge and Fluntern/Zoo
o Line 11 runs from Bellevue to Tiefenbrunnen – instead of Rehalp – and replaces line 2 in this section
o Review of measures for stabilisation and demand-based capacity increase of line 31, also in interaction with regional lines 701/703 and 704
Stages 2 and 3
In stages 2 and 3, no infrastructural adjustments from the network development strategy are planned. Selective adjustments to the service can be made as part of the timetable procedures.
The following requirements apply to public transport in the sub-area:
Provision of the necessary passenger capacities in the public transport network to accommodate additional passengers from settlement development and the planned modal split relocation.
Improvement of the link between the city and the agglomeration, mainly between Zurich and Adliswil.
In the transition between the southern and western regions, the connection to the Binz is to be improved in order to optimally connect the workplaces there by public transport from the south.
Measures in the southern sub-region
Short-term
Frequency adjustment of line 70 to the SZU timetable consolidation and connection with line 151 to Adliswil, Bahnhof
Stage 1
Extension of line 5 from Laubegg to Albisgütli during rush hour as well as frequency adjustment of line 70 and connection with line 151 to Adliswil, Bahnhof
Extension of line 76 from Binz to Sihlcity
Selective service adjustments that are possible without significant infrastructure expansions.
New Wollishofen – Enge tram line with continuation in the direction of Bellevue/Hochschulquartier during rush hour
Extension of line 72 from Wollishofen to Adliswil, Bahnhof
Stages 2 and 3
In stages 2 and 3, no further measures are planned in the southern sub-area.
Altstetten is to be developed into a city centre in accordance with the desired polycentricity of Zurich
According to the structure plan, significant settlement development is planned in the West sub-region, with the Altstetten, Albisrieden and Sihlfeld districts being particularly noteworthy here
In the Binz area, the development of the workplace focus continues to progress
The Limmat Valley is a dynamic agglomeration area, with the boundary between the city of Zurich and the agglomeration becoming increasingly blurred
Need for action for public transport
Strengthening the public transport connection of the city centre of Altstetten
Strengthening the public transport links of the city centres, especially Altstetten and Oerlikon
Provision of necessary capacities and creation of attractive offers that do justice to settlement developments and correspond to the modal split relocation goals of the city
Measures in the West sub-region
In Stage 1, short-term service adjustments are planned, which can be made even before major infrastructure measures are implemented. The short-term supply adjustments are designed to be upwardly compatible, so that subsequent adjustments can be easily integrated into the service due to the new network elements.
Short-term
Reorganization of the bus service in the Altstetten area. Line 35 will be extended from Altstetten station – as a replacement for line 78 on this section – to Werdhölzli
Line 78 will run from Altstetten station to Heizenholz
As a replacement for line 304, line 89 will be continued to Unterengstringen, Sennenbüel
Extension of line 6 to Letzigrund and – as soon as there is a tram turning loop – to Hermetschloo
Extension of line 33 to Triemlispital
Line 80 will now be served by trolleybuses
Stage 1
Extension of line 4 by a tram connection from Altstetten station to Hermetschloo
Extension of line 6 to Altstetten station
Extension of line 8 Hardturm to Altstetten Nord station
Line 31 runs from Altstetten station to Dunkelhölzli
Line 83 will be extended from Altstetten station to Hermetschloo
Conversion of line 89 to trolleybus
Stage 2
In stage 2, the implementation of the network element Tram Flurstrasse/Gutstrasse is planned in the West section. In addition, the completion of the Inner Ring is planned for the period of this stage, which will mean that two new tram lines will run from Zurich North to the West sub-area. Both network elements have a significant effect on the supply in the sub-area.
Stage 3
Stage 3 envisages the realisation of the Hönggerberg Tunnel network element. This will result in adjustments to the tram and bus network.
