In Switzerland today, the Gotthard railway tunnel will be opened

Erstfeld (Switzerland) - Today, the longest underground railway line in the world will be opened in Switzerland. A number of foreign guests are expected, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Gotthard railway tunnel measures over 57 kilometers and the cost of its construction reached 13 billion Swiss francs (over 317 billion crowns).

The construction of this important railway connection through the Alps, which aims to shorten and reduce the cost of freight transportation between northern and southern Europe, took 17 years. Today, the first train with 1,000 Swiss passengers selected by lottery will travel through the main tunnel, but regular service will not begin until December 11. A series of test runs must precede it.

According to the media, in a few years, around 300 trains are expected to run through the tunnel daily at speeds of up to 270 kilometers per hour. Environmentalists hope that this new railway connection, which will shorten the journey from Zurich to Milan by one hour, will reduce the number of 1.2 million trucks that annually use the alpine roads.

However, experts according to the DPA are unsure whether the two-tube Gotthard tunnel will truly be a significant breakthrough in European rail transport, as is generally expected. The German Railways (DB) describe this construction as a "milestone," but point out that it is "only the first step."

Experts also point out, among other things, the still incomplete necessary connections from Germany. This includes corresponding freight terminals where trains of up to 740 meters could be assembled for passage under the Alps. Many are also necessary to be completed in Switzerland and in Italy, where the Gotthard line is headed.