On 1 June 2016, after 17 years of work, Switzerland officially inaugurated the Gotthard Base Railway Tunnel, the world’s longest (57 km) and deepest tunnel. The celebration was marked by the presence of Mr Johann Schneider-Ammann, President of the Swiss Confederation, European leaders, including the President of the French Republic Mr François Hollande, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Mrs Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Austria Mr Christian Kern, and Prime Minister of Italy Mr Matteo Renzi, who stressed the importance of this tunnel for the European economy. Many transport stakeholders were also present alongside the CEO of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Mr Andreas Meyer and many other leaders of the railway world. UIC was represented by Mr Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director General.

A lavish show was held for the occasion with several hundred performers on both sides of the mountain. Acrobats, musicians, alpine horn players, the army band and the region’s choirs took part in the opening celebration.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world and represents the centrepiece of the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA). It embodies Swiss values such as innovation, precision and reliability. The Gotthard Base Tunnel provides a quicker, more reliable link between north and south for both people and goods. SBB is proud to be operating the longest railway tunnel in the world.
Faster, more frequent and more convenient services as well as new and modernised rolling stock will considerably increase the transport quality on the north-south axis. Customers will also benefit from more seats. The improvements will take effect gradually from the end of 2016 and provide their full benefit from the end of 2020. At the same time, SBB will actively market the Gotthard region and the mountain route. In total, SBB expects demand for passenger services to almost double by 2025, with passenger numbers increasing from the current figure of 9,000 people to approximately 15,000 people per day. More new trains will be provided in order to meet this increase in passenger demand.

When it comes to freight traffic, the new Gotthard tunnel will bring increased capacity, faster services and greater reliability. SBB Cargo customers will receive efficient, congestion-free and environmentally-friendly solutions for their logistics requirements.

For international transit traffic, the new Gotthard Base Tunnel marks the first major step towards a flat-rail route through the Alps. With the Ceneri Base Tunnel and the four-metre corridor, rail will become significantly more competitive on the north-south axis.

(Source: SBB)