The SPL at CERN

The Superconducting Proton Linac (SPL) is a multi-GeV, multi-MW linear proton machine which represents a very interesting option for the future of CERN. Operating at 50 Hz, it will serve both as a high performance injector for the complex of high energy accelerators, replacing the present PS booster, and as a high power proton driver for other physics applications like the generation of muons and neutrinos and/or radio-active ions. The potential of the SPL is presently being scrutinized and compared to other alternatives. A path of evolution is considered, beginning with the realization of a 3 MeV test facility, followed by the building of the 160 MeV front end of the SPL and finishing with the construction of the complete linac. The status of these investigations and the progress towards the SPL are summarized in this paper.