FAQ

CST provides a continuous goods flow in small units, which is what is required today. It is a complete logistics system across the entire goods route, from production to the end customer. It represents a step in the direction of the digital logistics of the future, relieves the burden on overground transport routes, and supports the energy revolution.

How will CST be able to relieve the burden on roads and railways and reduce the volume of traffic?

The full route of CST will take heavy goods vehicles off the roads. This has positive effects on the traffic flow and the burden on the traffic infrastructure. As large distribution centres are connected directly to the tunnel via a hub, fewer traffic movements are inevitably required. Urban centres can benefit from this relief for their transport infrastructure.

Even if the funds for CST were to be put into the railway infrastructure, there are limits to the expansion options for the railway network, too. These funds are investments in CST coming from the business sector, and cannot be used for any other purpose. CST is not in competition with the rail services in terms of financing. The expansion of the railway infrastructure will be financed from the Swiss Federal government railway infrastructure funds.

Efficient micro-distribution in urban areas is a nice idea, but so far there has not been a single city logistics project that has functioned in reality. How is CST city logistics going to fare any better?

In the CST system, the goods are already sorted and bundled by destination when transported in the tunnel. This bundling process means that they are optimally prepared for the subsequent micro-distribution process. At the hub, the goods simply need to be loaded onto appropriate vehicles – depending on the size, volume and destination, these are courier bikes, motorbikes or small delivery vans. This guarantees coordinated deliveries to sales outlets and end consumers, rather than each supplier delivering their goods individually.

The Federal law provides the legal basis on which CST can be implemented in Switzerland. It specifies the framework conditions for the approval and operation of CST. As this is an infrastructure spanning regional canton boundaries, a standardised planning approval procedure is required at federal level. The exact route of the tunnel and the location of the hubs will be determined as part of a sectoral planning process in collaboration with the cantons and communities.

CST has conducted a detailed feasibility study. In contrast to purely technology-based projects, CST has been developed in close collaboration with verified market requirements. In other words, the system will be designed on the basis of the needs of the users. CST is based on tried and tested technologies from intralogistics. The innovation here is combining these components to create an integrated control system.

CST is introducing a new component to the logistics market. With that said, CST does not regard itself as a competitor to the logistics service providers or the railway, but as an adjunct to existing offerings. The expected transport services from CST will primarily absorb the growth in goods traffic on the roads and will not be encroaching on existing market shares. In addition, participation in CST is open to everyone involved in the marketplace. The existing infrastructure is accessible to everyone.

Digitisation means a change in the world of work, but this is not being caused by CST. This change will mean that in future, different and new jobs will be created. CST also offers potential for new jobs (and even the reinstatement of jobs) when production returns to Switzerland thanks to 3D printing centres at the CST hubs. CST is good for Switzerland because it brings innovation with it. This is a critical “raw material” for Switzerland and is simultaneously an important export product.