The closures for maintenance of both the Brenner Pass and Simplon routes will create record traffic via the Swiss Gotthard Pass route. As the only route open between Frejus/Mont Cenis in France/Italy and the Tauernbahn in central Austria the Gotthard should be running right at capacity with the diverted traffic both freight and some passenger traffic. The most interesting diversions will be the DB’s Autozug (similar to Amtrak’s Auto Train) traffic to Italy, including at least one train each way weekly through San Nazzaro, on the scenic line hugging the shores of Lago Maggiore (Lake Maggiore). This line normally only sees two local passenger trains per day each way. The line is single tracked with frequent short tunnels and passes through the heart of several small towns. This line is the primary route for freight to reach terminals on the west side of Milano.
To cap the two announced closures, there has been a rockfall at Gurtenellen on the north ramp of the Gotthard Pass line where a Contractor’s crew was scaling some loose rock. The fall of some 500 cubic meters of rock crushed the piece of equipment being used by the Contractor. Two men were injured, and one man is missing. The line will be closed for an estimated time of one month.