Switzerland has completed construction on the world's longest tunnel
Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters
The Swiss Alps are an unforgiving landscape of rugged, rocky peaks and lush, green valleys. Connecting communities that would be otherwise isolated by the vast mountain range — including cultural and economic hubs like Zurich, Milan, and Turin — is no easy task.
Tunneling and track-laying for the 35-mile NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel has been completed, making it officially the longest tunnel in the world, surpassing Japan’s 14.5-mile Seikan Tunnel.
Swiss authorities held a media day inside the tunnel August 24 to announce that the majority of technical work for the tunnel had been completed, Swiss newspaper TDG reports. Testing will begin October 1 in anticipation of the first passenger and freight trains in June 2016.
Europe’s most densely populated belt, historically known as the "blue banana," stretches from northern England south through the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and Germany into northern Italy.
Most of this area — inhabited by approximately 111 million people — is relatively flat, except for Switzerland’s notorious Alps. The Gotthard Pass has proven itself a vital link between Switzerland and northern Italy for hundreds of years.
The first tunnel on the Gotthard axis, connecting Zurich and Milan by train, was completed in 1882 as a joint venture by Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, all of which benefit from trade along the vital north-south route.
This new tunnel has been financed entirely by Switzerland, at a cost of approximately $10.3 billion.
Travel time between Zurich, Lugano, and Milan will be shortened by an hour once the tunnel opens to passenger service in June 2016.
Trains will speed through the tunnel at more than 150 mph. This is only possible because the tunnel grade is almost completely flat throughout its entire length — much more level than the Alpine peaks above.
Since 1999, almost 2,000 workers have labored day and night to excavate 31 million tons of earth from far beneath the mountains. That’s more than 2 million truck loads!
Solid bedrock was excavated using four German-made tunnel boring machines that can cut through almost 100 feet of solid rock every day.
The massive machines must be cooled with water so they don't overheat while cutting through layers of super-hard gneiss and granite rock.
But TBMs can't do it all, and excavation is a dangerous job. Eight workers have died during construction and are remembered by co-workers in this small memorial.
After months of boring and excavating, the two massive machines reached the midpoint of the tunnel in October 2010, joining the two construction segments.
Two parallel, single-track tubes about 40 meters apart, like the one shown here, make up the tunnel. There are two emergency access points along the route.
Every 235 meters, cross passages, like the one shown here, connect the two tubes in case of emergency and to allow air circulation.
The tunnel must remain at a constant temperature so as not to affect trains as they enter from the frigid Franco-Swiss winter.
The tunnel is so long that workers use small folding bicycles to get from one spot to another.
Laying track in the tunnel has been quicker than the previous boring stages — pun intended. On October 31, 2014, workers celebrated laying the final track segment with what they call a "golden sleeper."
So far, the project has remained on time and without delays in construction. Testing the tunnel's tracks, ventilation and communications capabilities will begin in October.
Specially decorated locomotives were on hand to show off the newly completed tunnel for members of the press.
Journalists got to see — and photograph — a first-hand look at the inside of the cavernous tunnel.
While travelers will appreciate the significant time decrease on their journey, they’ll certainly miss out on some pristine Alpine scenery.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel will officially open with a festival in June 2016, but only a lucky 1,000 of the 500,000 festival-goers will have tickets for the first trip.
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