At 57 kilometres, the twin-bore Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) in Switzerland is the world’s longest railway tunnel. It is now complete after almost two decades of construction.
Last week, thousands of individuals, from heads of state, government officials to media and the members of the public, enjoyed the unique festivities at the opening ceremony. A lucky 1000 members of the public, including two school classes, took the first trip through the tunnel, which passes directly under the Gotthard Mountain.
The opening celebrations mark the end of a significant project, which began back with tunnel construction in 1996. The GBT is a key component of the New Transalpine Railway, which will enable a fast and efficient link for passengers and freight moving between Zurich and Milan. The project is also one of the largest environmental protection projects in Europe.
Following its opening, the GBT now surpasses Japan’s 53.9-kilometre Seikan rail line tunnel as the longest in the world.
Image credit: © AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd.