Glattal line
Since the end of 2010, the Glattal line has connected Zürich Nord with the mid-Glattal. It offers a fast and direct connection from Zurich main station to the airport.
The Glattal line connects the growing densely populated area of Zürich Nord/mid-Glattal. It thus makes a permanent contribution to covering the mobility needs associated with the development of housing.
12.7 kilometres and 21 stops
The Glattal line is a light railway (Stadtbahn) with its own line in northern Zurich. The two-track railway connects the airport and parts of the highly populated municipalities of Kloten, Opfikon, Rümlang, Wallisellen and Dübendorf with the north and centre of Zurich on the two branches of the three-line route. The railway network is 12.7 kilometres long and has 21 stops.
Three stages
In February 2003, eligible voters in the Canton of Zurich approved the global credit facilities for the construction of the Glattal line (CHF 555 million) and for road expansion and adaptation projects in mid-Glattal (CHF 97 million) with a majority of 66.6%. The Glattal line network was built in three stages. The first stage from Messe/Hallenstadion to Auzelg was put into operation in December 2006. The construction work on the second stage from Glattpark to Airport, Cargo (Flughafen Fracht) was completed at the end of 2008 and the construction work on the third stage from Auzelg to Stettbach station was completed at the end of 2010.
GlattalbahnPLUS – the outlook
A possible extension of the Glattal line is being discussed under the title of «GlattalbahnPLUS». The Canton of Zurich's structure plan contains the following continuation lines for the Glattal line: firstly, a route from Airport, Cargo (Flughafen Fracht) towards the centre of Kloten and Basserdorf, secondly from the Giessen area (Dübendorf) towards Flugplatzareal Dübendorf, Wangen-Brüttisellen and Dietlikon. The expansion options for the Glattal line are part of the development programme for the Zurich/Glattal region. The programme was submitted to the federal government in mid-2012.