Gotthard Tunnel opens in Switzerland / myLot

South Africa

June 2, 2016 9:15am CST

The Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland which opened yesterday is the longest Tunnel in the world. "The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) (German: Gotthard-Basistunnel; French: Tunnel de base du Saint-Gothard; Italian: Galleria di base del San Gottardo; Romansh: Tunnel da basa dal Son Gottard) is a railway base tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland, which opened on 1 June 2016 with full service to begin in December 2016. With a route length of 57.09 km (35.5 mi) and a total of 151.84 km (94.3 mi) of tunnels, shafts and passages,[3] it is the world's longest and deepest traffic tunnel and the first flat, low-level route through the Alps." This is amazing History in the making and I can just imagine what it must be like venturing through the tunnels in a fast train to some wonderful destination - very near to the Northern parts of Italy. my photo is of the Alps at Jungfrau

5 people like this

9 responses

marcyaz

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

2 Jun 16

That is going to be wonderful for travelers.

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

2 Jun 16

I am sure it will be - I have been to a few Swiss places and I am sure now one can go from Zurich to Italy via the tunnel - how awesome is that

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

2 Jun 16

@Inlemay It was possible to go even before from Milan to Zürich, but with the new tunnel it takes half an hour less. We did Milan - Zürich with my husband in 1971, before being married.

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

2 Jun 16

@LadyDuck I think i might but that tunnel on my bucket list . . . .

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Anna

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

2 Jun 16

We had the inauguration yesterday, Frau Merkel, the French President and the Italian Prime Minister were there. The first ride carried 1,000 Swiss citizens who had won tickets in a draw.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

Anna

@LadyDuck (471294)

• Switzerland

2 Jun 16

@Inlemay I will try to avoid the tunnel as much as I can, I am claustrophobic.

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

2 Jun 16

Oh that must have been very exciting - I hope you get to ride it soon once its open and then you can tell us

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

3 Jun 16

@LadyDuck So am I - but as long as I am going a steady speed and dont think about it, I am all good. I love flying too

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

3 Jun 16

I wonder how deep that snow is, quite lovely!

1 person likes this

show previous comments

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

4 Jun 16

@Inlemay that would be fun to see, from a safe distance of course

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

3 Jun 16

this was mid winter - December in the Alps and the snow was deep and hard - we even got to witness an avalanche - but far away, we just heard the rumble and the snow dust that lingered for ages. It has been one of the highlights of my travels - God is a most awesome painter for sure.

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

4 Jun 16

@Jessicalynnt Nooo dont be scared - you have to travel that tunnel - I hope i get to one day

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (218487)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Jun 16

How long is the tunnel portion itself? Or are several tunnels involved?

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

30 Jun 16

it is 57km one stretch - no breaks at all

Jeanne Marie

@Jeanniemaries (8237)

• United States

2 Jun 16

I always loved tunnels. I lived near the Caldecott tunnel in Oakland California and it was always exciting! I don't know if I would enjoy one as long as yours!! It was risky though to drive through in earthquake country!!

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

2 Jun 16

I think it could be risky through any country - who knows when God will move the earth 1mm to shift anything but they are so clever in making these tunnels now, so I believe safety is first

Jeanne Marie

@Jeanniemaries (8237)

• United States

2 Jun 16

@Inlemay Oh no doubt it's safe these days! But my tunnel was located right over a fault!

1 person likes this

Yogesh Sharma

@ModernDayWriter (3318)

• New Delhi, India

2 Jun 16

Yup I read it early morning in today's newspaper

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

2 Jun 16

Quite fascinating - I would love to do a train travel through it!

Yogesh Sharma

@ModernDayWriter (3318)

• New Delhi, India

2 Jun 16

@Inlemay everyone love to do that

1 person likes this

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (12974)

• Ireland

2 Jun 16

@inlemay I'm sure it's totally safe but there is no way I'd want to go hurtling about under all the mountain. Not will I go on the channel tunnel to France. Ridiculous I know, but there you are. It just doesn't seem right.

1 person likes this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

2 Jun 16

I want to do the tunnel to France as well as this one - I think I am going to call my next trip - Tunnel searching