Transporting cargo through underground tunnels
Mobility & Transport
The Cargo Sous Terrain network is a state-of-the-art logistics system that will reduce traffic and noise pollution
Spotted: Switzerland’s new Cargo Sous Terrain (CST) logistics system is the latest innovation in flexible transport for small-component goods.
The CST system is a privately funded initiative aiming to create an underground freight-transport system that is sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. The system comprises a network of tunnels and caverns in which freight vehicles are transported on magnetic levitation tracks. The CST project has the potential to revolutionise transport in Switzerland and set a global precedent for sustainable transport solutions.
Ideal for supply and disposal, the CST system uses a network of tunnels to connect production and logistics sites with urban centres. Once the goods have been transported underground, they are then distributed overground in environmentally friendly vehicles operated on 100 per cent renewable power. This helps to reduce traffic and noise emissions, making CST a truly sustainable solution.
The first part of the network will stretch over 70 kilometres in length, running from Härkingen-Niederbipp to Zurich. The system is due to be fully operational by 2031. The company says that the rest of the network will be built by 2045.
Springwise has recently spotted other innovations aimed at making cargo transport more sustainable. These include a modern take on the hydrogen airship, autonomous electric cargo trains, and a network of cargo drone hubs.
Written By: Katrina Lane
2nd August 2022
Website: cst.ch/en/
Contact: cst.ch/contact
