Swiss train, moving fast, wearing out the rails
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch.com) - The cost of maintaining Switzerland’s famous railroads is about to rise, but the amount in question is up for debate. The one thing that appears clear is that train travellers, and Switzerland has the highest percentage of them of any country in the world, will foot at least some of the bill.
The CFF rail company at the start of 2010 announced that it would need CHF850 million more than predicted to maintain the rail infrastructure. The federal government asked for a second estimate, which it says is CHF500m. The federal Transport Office and the CFF have agreed to create a programme together to closely monitor the state of the rail system and more precisely determine the upkeep cost.
Update 13 July Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – A 17-year-old Swiss youth from Nyon is in critical condition following an accident at the Nyon train station shortly after midnight, early Thursday 9 July. [Ed. note, 13 July: GL has just learned that he was a 2009 graduate of La Chataigneraie, part of the International School of Geneva] He was sending friends off on the train after an evening out in Nyon when he pulled himself up to the window of one of the rail cars and held on, briefly, then slipped and fell under the train as it began to move. Both legs were severed by the train’s bogies, the right one below the hip and the left at the tibia, below the knee.
Crossing the tracks (click on image to view larger)
Lake Geneva region (GenevaLunch) - Meteo Swiss is forecasting more rain for the next two days, so bring out your umbrellas, or do as the weeds do, and just get on with life. Temperatures with highs hovering around 13-14C, but by the weekend it should be warmer and sunnier.
