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Gotthard tunnel: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel opens in Switzerland
Gotthard tunnel: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel opens in Switzerland
4 hours ago
The world's longest and deepest rail tunnel has officially opened in Switzerland, after almost two decades of construction work. ... The 57km (35-mile) twin-bore Gotthard base tunnel will provide a high-speed rail link under the Swiss Alps between northern and southern Europe. ... Switzerland says it will revolutionise European freight transport. ... Goods currently carried on the route by a million lorries a year will go by train instead.
The tunnel has overtaken Japan's 53.9km Seikan rail tunnel as the longest in the world and pushed the 50.5km Channel Tunnel linking the UK and France into third place.
....
The project, which cost more than $12bn (£8.3bn) to build, was endorsed by Swiss voters in a referendum in 1992. Voters then backed a proposal from environmental groups to move all freight travelling through Switzerland from road to rail two years later.
The completed tunnel travels up to 2.3 km below the surface of the mountains above and through rock that reaches temperatures of 46C. ... Engineers had to dig and blast through 73 different kinds of rock, some as hard as granite and others as soft as sugar. More than 28m tonnes of rock was excavated, which was then broken down to help make the concrete used to build the tunnel.
4 hours ago
The world's longest and deepest rail tunnel has officially opened in Switzerland, after almost two decades of construction work. ... The 57km (35-mile) twin-bore Gotthard base tunnel will provide a high-speed rail link under the Swiss Alps between northern and southern Europe. ... Switzerland says it will revolutionise European freight transport. ... Goods currently carried on the route by a million lorries a year will go by train instead.
The tunnel has overtaken Japan's 53.9km Seikan rail tunnel as the longest in the world and pushed the 50.5km Channel Tunnel linking the UK and France into third place.
....
The project, which cost more than $12bn (£8.3bn) to build, was endorsed by Swiss voters in a referendum in 1992. Voters then backed a proposal from environmental groups to move all freight travelling through Switzerland from road to rail two years later.
The completed tunnel travels up to 2.3 km below the surface of the mountains above and through rock that reaches temperatures of 46C. ... Engineers had to dig and blast through 73 different kinds of rock, some as hard as granite and others as soft as sugar. More than 28m tonnes of rock was excavated, which was then broken down to help make the concrete used to build the tunnel.
Swiss Gotthard rail tunnel - an engineering triumph
By Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Geneva
1 June 2016
The world's longest - and deepest - rail tunnel opens in Switzerland on Wednesday.
The Gotthard rail link has taken 20 years to build, and cost more than $12bn (£8.2bn). It will, the Swiss say, revolutionise Europe's freight transport.
The Alps are sometimes described as Europe's natural trade barriers. From Roman times, the routes across them have been mapped, and fought over. ... In the Middle Ages, mule teams trekked painstakingly up the alpine passes, carrying everything from salt to wine, metal and leather goods. Accidents were common, and, in winter, the routes were closed.
So, when the first rail tunnel through the Gotthard opened in 1882 the then president of Switzerland, Simeon Bavier, could not contain his euphoria: "A triumph of art and science, a monument to work and diligence! The barrier which divided nations has fallen, the [Swiss Alps] have been breached. Countries have moved closer to each other, the world market is open!"
By Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Geneva
1 June 2016
The world's longest - and deepest - rail tunnel opens in Switzerland on Wednesday.
The Gotthard rail link has taken 20 years to build, and cost more than $12bn (£8.2bn). It will, the Swiss say, revolutionise Europe's freight transport.
The Alps are sometimes described as Europe's natural trade barriers. From Roman times, the routes across them have been mapped, and fought over. ... In the Middle Ages, mule teams trekked painstakingly up the alpine passes, carrying everything from salt to wine, metal and leather goods. Accidents were common, and, in winter, the routes were closed.
So, when the first rail tunnel through the Gotthard opened in 1882 the then president of Switzerland, Simeon Bavier, could not contain his euphoria: "A triumph of art and science, a monument to work and diligence! The barrier which divided nations has fallen, the [Swiss Alps] have been breached. Countries have moved closer to each other, the world market is open!"
World’s longest rail tunnel opens in Switzerland
Jun 1, 2016 - 15:08
The Gotthard, at 57 kilometres in length, is the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel
(Keystone)
The Gotthard rail tunnel through the Alps has opened to great fanfare from across Europe. Two separate celebrations were held at each end of the tunnel, with visiting heads of state and dignitaries in attendance.
The tunnel was opened by Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann. Speaking from the north portal in Rynächt, canton Uri, the visibly proud minister said: "Today is an historic day for our country: We have completed the Gotthard Base Tunnel, an epic feat of engineering, a project that has involved generations, from the first sketches, to the planning and construction of the tunnel. I feel extremely proud, but also quite humble."
Transport Minister Doris Leuthard, from the south portal at Pollegio in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, added that the tunnel was "also a symbol of openness and progress", that linked different languages, cultures, and peoples. It also strengthened cohesion in Switzerland and Europe and boosted the economy, she said.
Later, speaking with swissinfo.ch, she grew emotional, saying it is "proof that Switzerland can achieve something".
Jun 1, 2016 - 15:08
The Gotthard, at 57 kilometres in length, is the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel
(Keystone)
The Gotthard rail tunnel through the Alps has opened to great fanfare from across Europe. Two separate celebrations were held at each end of the tunnel, with visiting heads of state and dignitaries in attendance.
The tunnel was opened by Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann. Speaking from the north portal in Rynächt, canton Uri, the visibly proud minister said: "Today is an historic day for our country: We have completed the Gotthard Base Tunnel, an epic feat of engineering, a project that has involved generations, from the first sketches, to the planning and construction of the tunnel. I feel extremely proud, but also quite humble."
Transport Minister Doris Leuthard, from the south portal at Pollegio in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, added that the tunnel was "also a symbol of openness and progress", that linked different languages, cultures, and peoples. It also strengthened cohesion in Switzerland and Europe and boosted the economy, she said.
Later, speaking with swissinfo.ch, she grew emotional, saying it is "proof that Switzerland can achieve something".
The Gotthard: a tunnel carving out history
The Gotthard Tunnel is a symbol of Swiss identity and development. It’s the meeting point of Switzerland’s different languages and cultures, as well as one of the main lines of communication between north and south Europe. The opening of the new base tunnel on June 1, 2016 will make the Gotthard – at 57 kilometres – the longest tunnel in the world. It’s a historic event in Swiss rail transport history.
The Gotthard Tunnel is a symbol of Swiss identity and development. It’s the meeting point of Switzerland’s different languages and cultures, as well as one of the main lines of communication between north and south Europe. The opening of the new base tunnel on June 1, 2016 will make the Gotthard – at 57 kilometres – the longest tunnel in the world. It’s a historic event in Swiss rail transport history.
The new tunnel will improve on existing services to southern Switzerland and Italy
(Keystone)