Transport

Switzerland's autonomous underground cargo system aims for 2031 debut

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Cargo Sous Terrain is beginning work on the first 70-km stretch of an autonomous underground cargo logistics system
Cargo Sous Terrain
Cargo Sous Terrain is beginning work on the first 70-km stretch of an autonomous underground cargo logistics system
Cargo Sous Terrain
Rough proposed locations for the first 10 stops
Cargo Sous Terrain
A 6-meter-diameter tunnel with three lanes
Cargo Sous Terrain
Elevators will lift and lower the pods between above-ground logistics hubs and the underground tunnels
Cargo Sous Terrain
Above-ground operations could also be substantially automated
Cargo Sous Terrain
The entire project aims to use renewable energy
Cargo Sous Terrain
Small, autonomous electric pods will travel through tunnels at around 30 km/h
Cargo Sous Terrain
The inductively-powered electric cargo pods aim to take strain off Switzerland's road system
Cargo Sous Terrain
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A lot less technologically optimistic than the Hyperloop-TT Hyperport project, Cargo Sous Terrain looks considerably more likely to happen, with its first 10-stop, 70-km (43-mile) series of underground tunnels scheduled to begin taking cargo in 2031.

The idea is to develop a fully autonomous, zero-emissions transport system for small cargo loads that can take some strain off a road system that's projected to be smashed with nearly 40 percent more traffic in 30 years' time. But where Hyperloop-TT's project aims to fire entire shipping containers around Europe at transonic 1,220-km/h (760-mph) speeds in ultra-low-drag vacuum tubes, Cargo Sous Terrain (CST) is taking a much more humble and achievable approach.

Each tunnel will have a diameter around 6 m (20 ft), and a flat floor divided into three lanes. Along these lanes, platoons of small cargo pods will travel at speeds around 30 km/h (18.6 mph). These pods will be big enough to hold a pallet or two, and there'll be refrigerated ones available for fresh produce and the like. They'll drive themselves with electric motors, and they'll receive power through induction rails.

Elevators will lift and lower the pods between above-ground logistics hubs and the underground tunnels
Cargo Sous Terrain

Pods will be loaded up at above-ground logistics facilities, then lowered down to on/off-ramp sections of the tunnel system on elevators. The outside lanes of the tunnels will be one-way, while the inside lanes can be dynamically configured to prevent traffic jams if a high number of pods are waiting for a single elevator.

CST estimates that three billion Swiss francs (~US$3.056 billion) will get the first bit built and operational, between Zurich and Härkingen/Niederbipp, and claims "no subsidies are being used in building the infrastructure and operating the tunnel." Indeed, it seems it'll be fully privately funded; Switzerland's Federal Council has ruled out co-financing CST with public funds – but the Swiss government has put new legislation in place to pave the way for the project to happen, and as a result the company now has access to some US$100 million worth of pre-sourced private investment money to get going.

The company is yet to break ground, but has entered the planning permission phase and begun investigating and surveying locations for the first 10 hubs, prioritizing locations that'll take the maximum traffic off the roads. If all goes to plan, the CST tunnel network will spread out for some 500 km (311 miles) across the country, From Geneva to St. Gallen, with short secondary lines shooting off to Basel, Lucerne and Thun.

The entire project aims to use renewable energy
Cargo Sous Terrain

Apart from the drop in surface traffic, the CST is designed to make a minimal impact on the daily lives of citizens. It'll be more or less invisible to the eye, nearly silent, and totally run on renewable energy. The company appears to have no plans for passenger services, a decision which simplifies things greatly. Indeed, it all looks rather sensible and doable.

Check out a short video below.

Source: Cargo Sous Terrain

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8 comments
Daishi
One thing Elon said that I agree with is that tunnels are not the only endgame of transportation. The idea is to create multi-plane transport networks. Subways are an example of this but another way to articulate this would be like building a roof on all urban streets. The streets would remain mostly as they are for heavy transport and above on the second floor it would be dedicated to things like pedestrians, bicycles, outdoor seating and shopping etc. with maybe some green space mixed in. I would much rather live in that kind of city.
paul314
Although 30 km/h doesn't sound particularly fast, most cargo really doesn't need to get there all that soon. Moving everything at 100km/h or more is in a lot of ways about driver hourly rates and limited shift length, and with autonomous vehicles those issues go away. (Also, at 30 km/h, collisions, when they occur, will not be nearly as big a deal.)
cjeam
I wonder why they're not just running them on rails too. Suppose at low speeds you can have solid or high-pressure rubber tyres, and since they wont be carrying that much weight the advantage of the reduced rolling resistance is lessened.
Daishi
@paul314 the same logic allows for fewer routes. Most things don't need to travel direct from source to destination, they could go through a hub first instead which reduces the number of routes needed.
Chase
Would love to see something like this in the states, with a network crisscrossing the country and hubs in every major city (or two or more depending on the size and need of the city).
JPAR
Another major benefit, although perhaps not a problem for Switzerland, is the security side of things. We are seeing a growth in theft from delivery vehicles as they are easy to hijack and generally low paid drivers who aren't going to risk themselves against 3 or 4 masked guys jumping out of a vehicle in front of them. Personally I'd like to see these underground systems be the main artery for heavy goods from docks to warehouses {and yes, I do realise Switzerland is a land-locked country)
TedTheJackal
Steel wheels would have a lower coefficient of rolling friction.
What a convenient place to shelter your population in a nuclear war.
WB
this makes zero sense cost wise. Switzerland has epic rail system