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Gotthard Base Tunnel ready to open

Joanna GottschalkJuly 7, 2016

The Gotthard Base is the world's longest railway tunnel, running through the Swiss Alps. It's expected to have a huge impact on European freight transport – with significant environmental benefits.

https://p.dw.com/p/1JLKk
Schweiz Gotthard Basistunnel
Image: picture-alliance/Keystone/M. Ruetschi

Gotthard Base Tunnel ready to open

With this tunnel, Switzerland will lead by example. The country can claim the world’s longest tunnel (57.1 kilometres) as well as simultaneously having started one of Europe’s largest environmentally friendly projects. Green ideas were inserted at every step of the tunneling process. Some of the 459 million cubic feet of rock hewn from the mountain — enough to fill 13 Empire State buildings — are being used to restore Alpine lakes that were dredged for gravel.