Perhaps there was no need for a crystal ball to predict what is now unfolding, as the scenario was already all too clear. The decision by DB Cargo Italia in autumn 2024 to abandon the historic Domodossola-Beura terminal from 2025 and focus all services on the Gotthard route had already caused a stir. The spotlight turned to the transit route through the Sempione, particularly in light of the planned maintenance work by RFI, which had serious repercussions on the reliability and appeal of rail services, increasing the risk of losing customers who would be difficult to regain.
Now, the situation is further exacerbated by scheduled maintenance by the Swiss railways inside the Sempione tunnel, creating what could be a perfect storm when combined with additional summer closures on the Italian section between Domodossola and Milan. The eastern bore of the Sempione tunnel requires comprehensive refurbishment along its nearly twenty-kilometre length, including maintenance on sections of the vault, drainage channels, and water runoff systems. Despite periodic upgrades, the eastern tunnel remains the older of the two comprising the Sempione tunnel: in February 2025, it will mark exactly 120 years, whereas the second tunnel was opened sixteen years later.
The efforts of Swiss rail operators FFS and BLS to minimise disruption are commendable, but the outlook for the coming years remains challenging. The staggered works are scheduled from 2025 to 2028. The first phase is set to take place between 3 February and 27 July 2025, without a complete shutdown but effectively limiting operations to just one of the two bores. The reduced railway capacity will impact all types of trains, with the freight sector bearing the brunt. Intermodal services are particularly affected, with FFS and BLS confirming that "freight transport will be impacted due to significant restrictions on four-metre corridor operations within the Sempione tunnel." These phased works will continue until 2028.
As if that were not enough, summer 2025 is also set to be a difficult period for the Sempione corridor on the Italian side. The section south of Domodossola will be entirely closed to rail traffic from 8 June to 27 July and again from 31 August to 12 September 2025. This marks the second phase of work aimed at upgrading tunnels to accommodate intermodal trains without loading gauge restrictions. The closure will also provide an opportunity to carry out a complete renewal of the track infrastructure.
The overall result is that, between the ongoing Swiss maintenance and the scheduled works in Italy, rail capacity along the Sempione axis will be drastically reduced for several years. These disruptions add to other planned rail closures across Europe for freight traffic upgrades, such as the Basel-St. Johann line, which will be closed every weekend in October 2025, the Tauern tunnel in Austria, unavailable until 13 July 2025, and a section of the Arlberg railway between Switzerland and Austria, which will be shut from 23 to 29 April and from 6 October to 2 November 2025.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
