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In Renens, CFF Built a City Within a City for Better and Worse
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Economy & Trade

In Renens, CFF Built a City Within a City for Better and Worse

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Documents & data Context piece
  • Renens, a town with limited space, is undergoing densification due to its growing attractiveness.
  • CFF owns nearly 12% of Renens' communal territory, including former unused land along railway tracks.
  • This land is being developed into new urban areas, transforming the town's image.

Renens, a Swiss town with a mere three square kilometers of territory, is experiencing significant densification as it grapples with its newfound attractiveness. Once perceived as a disreputable suburb, Renens now sees its constructible land as a valuable asset. This situation presents a prime opportunity for Swiss Federal Railways (CFF), which owns close to 12% of the town's communal land.

CFF's holdings in Renens encompass areas dedicated to rail infrastructure, workshops, and, crucially, former derelict land adjacent to the railway lines. These previously unused spaces are now being transformed into new urban developments, contributing to the town's metamorphosis.

The article highlights how these CFF-owned lands are being utilized to accommodate the town's growth, turning former industrial or neglected areas into vibrant parts of the urban landscape. This development is part of a broader trend across Switzerland where CFF is actively involved in reshaping cities.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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