France and Switzerland agree terms for CEVA rail link

Transport ministers in France and Switzerland have signed a bilateral agreement that will push forward construction of a new rail link between Geneva and the French city of Annemasse.

Frédéric Cuvillier, French Minister of Transport, and Switzerland’s Doris Leuthard signed an agreement yesterday (March 19) setting out conditions for the construction, operation and financing of the project.

Cuvillier and Leuthard announced that work would begin on the 1.8-kilometre French section of the Cornavin-Geneva-Eaux Vives-Annemasse (CEVA) link early next year, with commissioning planned by the end of 2017.

CEVA was approved by the Swiss government in 2008 but legal challenges to the CHF 1.5 billion project delayed the start of construction work.

France will contribute CHF 234 million to the construction of the 16-kilometre line.