Gotthard Base Tunnel

The Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016, is the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel, stretching 57 kilometres beneath the Swiss Alps. It forms the centrepiece of Switzerland’s New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA), a major infrastructure project designed to improve high-speed and high-capacity transit across the north–south axis of Europe. The tunnel connects Erstfeld in the canton of Uri with Bodio in the canton of Ticino, passing up to 2,450 metres beneath the Alpine peaks.

Built at a cost of CHF 9.56 billion, the tunnel comprises two parallel single-track tubes linked by 178 cross passages. It allows freight and passenger trains to bypass steep gradients and winding mountain routes, reducing travel time and energy use while increasing capacity. Alongside the earlier Lötschberg Base Tunnel, it exemplifies the base tunnel concept: low-level, flat railways through the Alps.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel represents a landmark in tunnelling and European transport, shifting long-haul freight from road to rail and enhancing sustainable mobility across the continent.

Visiting the Gotthard Base Tunnel offers a detailed look at one of Europe’s major infrastructure projects. The Gotthard Tunnel Experience is a guided tour lasting 2 to 4 hours, available in German (with English on request), for groups of 6 to 18 people. It costs CHF 31 per person. The tour includes access to a visitor centre and insights into the construction, technology, and operation of the 57 km rail tunnel. It provides a clear and informative introduction to the tunnel’s role in Alpine transport and its significance in the development of transalpine rail travel.