Switzerland Opens Longest Railway Land Tunnel

The Swiss Loetschberg rail tunnel, after eight years of construction and a cost estimate of $4 billion, has reopened with about 42 passenger trains and up to 80 freight trains operating daily, marking a significant shift in Switzerland’s transportation infrastructure.

June 15, 2007 6:52 pm | Last Update: July 30, 2015 6:57 pm

After eight years in construction, the 34km Loetschberg rail tunnel – the longest tunnel on land in the world – has reopened.

The tunnel – estimated to have cost $4bn – is to be fully operational in December with about 42 passenger trains and up to 80 freight trains a day.

Switzerland acts as one of Europe’s major junctions for freight and the tunnel will move cargo off the roads and onto rail. A second rail route will be the 60km Gotthard rail tunnel due for completion in 2015, which will cut travel time from Zurich to Milan to only two-and-a-half hours.

TAGS: european important railway tunnels, switzerland railway infrastructure projects, switzerland railway investments, Switzerland railway tunnels

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