GBT: deepest and longest train tunnel of the world inaugurated

dynamitenews.com
Bern, Switzerland/ 2 June 2016. With the inauguration of the twin tubes of the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) running north-south under the Alps on Wednesday, Europe marked the completion of the world's longest and deepest train tunnel.

The record-setting Gotthard twin train tunnel that opened nearly two decades after work began, stretches for 57 km from Erstfeld in Canton Uri to Bodio in Canton Ticino.

The enormous tunnel-boring machines that were used to build the tunnel were from Germany's Herrenknecht AG, the world's leading supplier of such equipment. 

A total amount of 12.2 billion Swiss francs ($12.2 billion, 11.0 billion euros)was paid by Switzerland government to build the tunnel. 

The objective of the project is to help shift freight from trucks onto trains, and reduce the environmental footprint of transalpine freight transport by rerouting it underground.

Zurich to Lugano whose distance is approximately 206km and is covered within 2-3 hours can now be covered within 45 minutes.