A groundbreaking railway project known as The Swiss New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) features three tunnels carved through the Swiss Alps. While two of the tunnels have been completed, one is currently undergoing substantial expansion works.
The NRLA comprises the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest railway tunnel, in addition to the Ceneri Base Tunnel and the Lötschberg Base Tunnel. Despite the NRLA’s overall completion in 2020, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel is in the process of expansion, slated for completion by 2035.
The project, with an estimated cost of around 12.2 billion Swiss francs (£11.3 billion), aims to reduce road traffic and minimize environmental impact.
The Swiss New Rail Link connects eight cities across two countries, including Zurich, Basel, Lugano, Bellinzona, Lucerne, and Bern in Switzerland, as well as Milan and Genoa in Italy.
Switzerland has constructed over 1,400 tunnels throughout the years, extending a total of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) underground.
According to reports, the NRLA is the largest construction project in Swiss railway history. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, spanning 57 kilometers and operational since 2016, holds the record as the world’s longest railway tunnel, taking 17 years to complete.
The Ceneri Base Tunnel, measuring 15.4 kilometers in length, is another significant NRLA project. The Federal Council plans to expand the Lötschberg Base Tunnel to accommodate two tracks by approximately 2034 to enhance capacity and operational efficiency, enabling a continuous half-hourly service for passenger transportation.
Another notable project currently in progress is the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT), which will connect Austria and Italy.