World’s Longest Railway Tunnel Set To Open After 17 Years

After a construction period of nearly two decades, the world’s longest railway tunnel is finally set to open in Switzerland.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) is a staggering 35.4 miles in length, and is situated some 7,545 feet below the Gotthard massif, cutting through the Swiss Alps.

Trains will reach speeds of 155mph as they make their way through the tunnel, which is around four miles longer than the Channel Tunnel.

Lengthy: Construction on the tunnel took 17 years (Reuters)

The 35-mile length also pushes the previous longest railway tunnel - Japan’s 33.46-mile Seikan tunnel - into second place.

The project, that cost around £8 billion, was actually conceived in 1947 but did not begun construction until 17 years ago. More than 28 MILLION tonnes of mountain rock have been excavated in that time.

Service: Passengers will start using the tunnel from December (AFP)

It is hoped that GBT will cut an hour off the journey time between Zurich and Milan, which currently takes just over three and a half hours.

Testing of trains will begin on June 1, ahead of the first passenger journeys in December this year.

Top pic: Reuters