CEVA rail
Encyclopedia
CEVA is the name given to a project to connect the main Swiss railway line into Geneva
from the rest of Switzerland
to the at present isolated link out of Geneva
Eaux Vives station to Annemasse Haute-Savoie
, (France
). CEVA is the acronym of "Cornavin – Eaux-Vives – Annemasse".
The project is to build the remaining section of an outer ring link connecting Geneva
, (Cornavin station
) with Annemasse
running through Geneva's west, south and south eastern suburbs. It will enhance the public transport network of the Geneva region, which increasingly over the years has become a trans-frontier conurbation, with thousands of cross-border daily commuters travelling to and fro between the Geneva area and surrounding regions of France. It will link the CFF
route Lausanne – Geneva Cornavin – Geneva Airport and the SNCF route Geneva Cornavin – Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
– Lyon with lines in the Haute Savoie serving Thonon-les-Bains
, Évian-les-Bains
, the valley
of the Arve
to St Gervais and Chamonix and from Annemasse to Annecy
The origins of the project go back to 1850. In 1888 the Eaux-Vives to Annemasse
line was opened. At Eaux Vives, the abutments were built for a bridge across the main road on the alignment of the proposed link round to Cornavin. This Geneva ring was part of a proposed new link to the Simplon route to Italy, using a direct route from Paris and Dijon under the Jura mountains via the Faucille tunnel to Geneva, round the 'CEVA' route and along the south side of Lake Geneva to St Maurice. This was never realised due to competition from the Vaud canton which succeeded in keeping the Dijon – Vallorbe – Lausanne – St Maurice route as the main Simplon line to Italy.
However, in 1949 the first section of the ring was built, connecting Cornavin Station
to a large new freight marshalling yard at La Praille, but was used only for freight. At present the Eaux-Vives – Annemasse line remains an isolated shuttle served by SNCF
trains, although the line is legally the 'Geneva State Railway' (Chemin de Fer de l'Etat de Genève).
After numerous false starts over a century, the ring line project was 'reborn' in the 1990s and a passenger service was introduced on the La Praille line as far as Lancy-Pont-Rouge station, opened on 19 December 2002 and is the present terminus for the regional trains coming from Coppet
in Vaud
, after passing through Geneva's Cornavin station
. Pont Rouge acts as an interchange to the recently built Geneva tram route 15/17
The first official CEVA project work was undertaken in the last two years, and consisted of widening Cornavin station on its south side, to allow room for a platform for use by CEVA trains. This entailed the wholesale moving of a historic listed building by a few metres.
Approval of the plans by the Federal Office of Transport was dated 5 May 2008, but opponents brought the case to court. The Federal Administrative Court rejected the plea in June 2011 but the opponents also took the last step, going to the Federal Court.
Upon completion a continuous railway route will run from Cornavin Station
via La Praille, Bachet-de-Pesay, over the river Arve
, in tunnel under the commune of Champel
, and on past Eaux-Vives, underground to Annemasse
.
The CEVA project consists of four principal sectors :
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
from the rest of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to the at present isolated link out of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Eaux Vives station to Annemasse Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
, (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
). CEVA is the acronym of "Cornavin – Eaux-Vives – Annemasse".
The project is to build the remaining section of an outer ring link connecting Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, (Cornavin station
Gare de Cornavin
Genève-Cornavin is Geneva's main railway station, located in the centre of the city...
) with Annemasse
Annemasse
Annemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
running through Geneva's west, south and south eastern suburbs. It will enhance the public transport network of the Geneva region, which increasingly over the years has become a trans-frontier conurbation, with thousands of cross-border daily commuters travelling to and fro between the Geneva area and surrounding regions of France. It will link the CFF
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
route Lausanne – Geneva Cornavin – Geneva Airport and the SNCF route Geneva Cornavin – Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône....
– Lyon with lines in the Haute Savoie serving Thonon-les-Bains
Thonon-les-Bains
Thonon-les-Bains is a town in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-History:...
, Évian-les-Bains
Évian-les-Bains
Évian-les-Bains or Évian is a commune in the northern part of the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France...
, the valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
of the Arve
Arve
The Arve river flows for approximately 100 km through France, in the département of Haute-Savoie, and in Switzerland...
to St Gervais and Chamonix and from Annemasse to Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
The origins of the project go back to 1850. In 1888 the Eaux-Vives to Annemasse
Annemasse
Annemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
line was opened. At Eaux Vives, the abutments were built for a bridge across the main road on the alignment of the proposed link round to Cornavin. This Geneva ring was part of a proposed new link to the Simplon route to Italy, using a direct route from Paris and Dijon under the Jura mountains via the Faucille tunnel to Geneva, round the 'CEVA' route and along the south side of Lake Geneva to St Maurice. This was never realised due to competition from the Vaud canton which succeeded in keeping the Dijon – Vallorbe – Lausanne – St Maurice route as the main Simplon line to Italy.
However, in 1949 the first section of the ring was built, connecting Cornavin Station
Gare de Cornavin
Genève-Cornavin is Geneva's main railway station, located in the centre of the city...
to a large new freight marshalling yard at La Praille, but was used only for freight. At present the Eaux-Vives – Annemasse line remains an isolated shuttle served by SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
trains, although the line is legally the 'Geneva State Railway' (Chemin de Fer de l'Etat de Genève).
After numerous false starts over a century, the ring line project was 'reborn' in the 1990s and a passenger service was introduced on the La Praille line as far as Lancy-Pont-Rouge station, opened on 19 December 2002 and is the present terminus for the regional trains coming from Coppet
Coppet
Coppet is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.-History:Coppet is first mentioned in 1294 as Copetum. In 1347 it was mentioned as Copet.-Geography:...
in Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
, after passing through Geneva's Cornavin station
Gare de Cornavin
Genève-Cornavin is Geneva's main railway station, located in the centre of the city...
. Pont Rouge acts as an interchange to the recently built Geneva tram route 15/17
The first official CEVA project work was undertaken in the last two years, and consisted of widening Cornavin station on its south side, to allow room for a platform for use by CEVA trains. This entailed the wholesale moving of a historic listed building by a few metres.
Approval of the plans by the Federal Office of Transport was dated 5 May 2008, but opponents brought the case to court. The Federal Administrative Court rejected the plea in June 2011 but the opponents also took the last step, going to the Federal Court.
Route
Gare de Cornavin
Genève-Cornavin is Geneva's main railway station, located in the centre of the city...
via La Praille, Bachet-de-Pesay, over the river Arve
Arve
The Arve river flows for approximately 100 km through France, in the département of Haute-Savoie, and in Switzerland...
, in tunnel under the commune of Champel
Champel
Champel is a neighborhood in the city of Geneva, Switzerland.It is popularly considered as a high class neighbourhood, which could be considered as "posh" due to its numerous parks and natural spaces, luxurious apartments and proximity to the city center...
, and on past Eaux-Vives, underground to Annemasse
Annemasse
Annemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
.
The CEVA project consists of four principal sectors :
- Between Cornavin station and Bachet-de-Pesay : the CFF line (which has existed since 1949) between Cornavin and Gare de la Praille will be refurbished.
- Between Bachet-de-Pesay and the Gare des Eaux-Vives: a new CFF line will be built which will cross the river ArveArveThe Arve river flows for approximately 100 km through France, in the département of Haute-Savoie, and in Switzerland...
by means of a bridge then run under the commune of ChampelChampelChampel is a neighborhood in the city of Geneva, Switzerland.It is popularly considered as a high class neighbourhood, which could be considered as "posh" due to its numerous parks and natural spaces, luxurious apartments and proximity to the city center...
by means of a tunnelTunnelA tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
. - Between Gare des Eaux-Vives and the Swiss-French border : the single-track SNCF line which has existed since 1888 will be removed and a new double-track underground line will be built covering the same route as the existing above ground line.
- Between the border and AnnemasseAnnemasseAnnemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
: the single-track SNCF line which has been in place since 1888 will be upgraded.