Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) is the world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel in Switzerland. It was officially opened in the year 2016 after almost two decades of construction work. This gigantic project work was aimed to revolutionize the European freight transport system. The 57 km (35 mile) twin bore Gotthard base tunnel provides a high speed rail link under the Swiss Alps between northern and southern Europe. The tunnel is designed as the first flat low level route through the Alps. The new rail link is a major milestone in the history of Switzerland and Europe. The vision for a new rail line through the Alps originated during the 1950s. The construction work began in the year 1999. The Gotthard tunnel emerged as the longest tunnel in the world surpassing Japan’s 53.9 km Seikan rail tunnel and the 50.5 km Channel tunnel which links the UK and France. The two single track Gottthard Base Tunnel links the Erstfeld in the Uri canton and Bodio in the southern canton of Tessin. The design of Gotthard Base Tunnel took 25 years and the project took 17 years for construction. The estimated final cost of the project was SFr 9.4 billion ($9 billion) for the Gotthard and SFr 2.24 billion for the related 15.4 km (9.6 miles) Ceneri tunnel project.
Case 12: Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT)
Management for Professionals
2022-05-04
6 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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