Test operations in the Ceneri Base Tunnel have been running at full speed since April 20, 2020, in strict compliance with the specifications of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (SFOPH). The first run at the maximum speed of 275 km/h took place during the night from April 30, 2020 to May 1, 2020. Until the Ceneri Base Tunnel is handed over to SBB on September 1, 2020, numerous further test runs in the 15.4-kilometer-long base tunnel between Camorino and Vezia are planned under the direction of AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd (ATG).
After receiving approval from the Swiss Federal Office of Transport on February 17, 2020, ATG started test operations on schedule on March 1, 2020, and shortly afterwards the first test runs with the ETCS Level 2 train control system took place. In addition, SBB's radio measurement car began to be used for tests on GSM-R digital radio and tunnel radio.
Due to the corona pandemic, test operations were interrupted in mid-March 2020 and the test planning was revised. On April 20, 2020, ATG resumed test operations in the Ceneri Base Tunnel in strict compliance with the FOPH's specifications. High-speed tests started on April 29, 2020. The specially equipped ICE-S high-speed test train was rented from Germany for this purpose. The speed of these high-resistance journeys was increased step by step. The first run at 275 km/h - the highest speed tested in the Ceneri Base Tunnel - was successfully completed in the night from April 30, 2020 to May 1, 2020.
Source: AlpTransit San Gottardo SA
Picture material: https://www.alptransit.ch/de/media/fotogalerie/ (News)
Video: High-speed run ICE-S Ceneri April 2020 North portal
Video: High-speed run Ceneri April 2020 Passage
