• A miner holding a statue of Saint Barbara front of the drilling machine ‘Gabi 2’ in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The excavation work has taken more than 15 years. Urs Flueeler / EPA
    A miner holding a statue of Saint Barbara front of the drilling machine ‘Gabi 2’ in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The excavation work has taken more than 15 years. Urs Flueeler / EPA
  • Construction workers mounting the last of 380,000 ties (in a golden colour) in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The opening celebrations of the Switzerland’s the largest-ever construction project will start on June 1. Sigi Tischler / EPA
    Construction workers mounting the last of 380,000 ties (in a golden colour) in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The opening celebrations of the Switzerland’s the largest-ever construction project will start on June 1. Sigi Tischler / EPA
  • A miner preparing a blasting operation in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Martin Ruetschi / EPA
    A miner preparing a blasting operation in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Martin Ruetschi / EPA
  • A component for one of the six drill machines being transported by train into a cavern in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2009. With a length of 57km crossing the Alps, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest railway tunnel. Karl Mathis / EPA
    A component for one of the six drill machines being transported by train into a cavern in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2009. With a length of 57km crossing the Alps, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest railway tunnel. Karl Mathis / EPA
  • The first blasting operation for the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the New Railway Link through the Alps in Silenen, Switzerland, in 1999. Sigi Tischler / EPA
    The first blasting operation for the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the New Railway Link through the Alps in Silenen, Switzerland, in 1999. Sigi Tischler / EPA
  • A test train close to the northern gate near Erstfeld, Switzerland, in October last year. The opening celebrations of the Switzerland’s the largest-ever construction project will start on June 1. Urs Flueeler / EPA
    A test train close to the northern gate near Erstfeld, Switzerland, in October last year. The opening celebrations of the Switzerland’s the largest-ever construction project will start on June 1. Urs Flueeler / EPA
  • An exterior view of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Alexandra Wey / EPA
    An exterior view of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Alexandra Wey / EPA
  • A construction worker telephoning in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Alexandra Wey / EPA
    A construction worker telephoning in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Alexandra Wey / EPA
  • An interior view of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Alexandra Wey / EPA
    An interior view of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Alexandra Wey / EPA
  • A miner looking at the tunnel drilling machine ‘Sissi’ after it broke through the last section of the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2010. The opening celebrations of the Switzerland’s the largest-ever construction project will start on June 1. Arno Balzarini / EPA
    A miner looking at the tunnel drilling machine ‘Sissi’ after it broke through the last section of the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2010. The opening celebrations of the Switzerland’s the largest-ever construction project will start on June 1. Arno Balzarini / EPA
  • A drilling machine in front of the entrance of the Ceneri base tunnel in Sigirino, Switzerland, in 2008. With a length of 57 km crossing the Alps, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest railway tunnel. Karl Mathis / EPA
    A drilling machine in front of the entrance of the Ceneri base tunnel in Sigirino, Switzerland, in 2008. With a length of 57 km crossing the Alps, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest railway tunnel. Karl Mathis / EPA
  • Two trains on the Gotthard train line between Bodio and Giornico, Switzerland, in 2003. Karl Mathis / EPA
    Two trains on the Gotthard train line between Bodio and Giornico, Switzerland, in 2003. Karl Mathis / EPA
  • Construction workers working in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The excavation work has taken more than 15 years and cost about US$12.7 billion. Karl Mathis / EPA
    Construction workers working in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The excavation work has taken more than 15 years and cost about US$12.7 billion. Karl Mathis / EPA

Business

The world’s newest and longest train tunnel – in pictures

Liz Claus

May 23, 2016

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The new Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland is set to become the world’s longest train tunnel when it opens on June 1. Running at 57km long under the Alps, the US$12bn project is Switzerland’s costliest. The tunnel took 15 years to build and replaces Japan’s 53.9km Seikan tunnel as the longest.

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