Europe’s most densely populated belt, historically known as the “blue banana,” stretches from Northern England, south through the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and Germany, and into northern Italy.
Most of this area—inhabited by approximately 111 million people—is relatively flat, except for Switzerland’s notorious Alps. The Gotthard Pass has proven itself as a vital link between Switzerland and Northern Italy for hundreds of years.
The first tunnel on the Gotthard axis, connecting Zurich and Milan by train, was completed in 1882 as a joint venture by Switzerland, Germany and Italy, all of which benefit from trade along the vital North-South route.
This new tunnel has been financed entirely by Switzerland, at a cost of approximately $10.3 billion.
Travel time between Zurich, Lugano and Milan will be shortened by an hour once the tunnel opens to passenger service in June 2016.
Trains will speed through the tunnel at over 150 miles per hour. This is only possible because the tunnel grade is almost completely flat throughout its entire length. Much more level than the alpine peaks above.
Since 1999, almost 2,000 workers have labored day-and-night to excavate 31 million tons of earth from far beneath the mountains. That’s over 2 million truck loads!
Solid bedrock was excavated using four German-made Tunnel Boring Machines that can cut through almost 100 feet of solid rock every day.
The massive machines must be cooled with water so they don’t overheat while cutting through layers of super-hard gneiss and granite rock.
But TBMs can’t do it all, and excavation is a dangerous job. Eight workers have died during construction and are remembered by the co-workers in this small memorial.
After months of boring and excavating, the two massive machines reached the midpoint of the tunnel in October 2010, joining the two construction segments.
Two parallel, single-track tubes about 40 meters apart, like the one shown here, make up the tunnel. There are two emergency access points along the route.
Every 235 meters, cross passages, like the one shown here, connect the two tubes in case of emergency, and to allow air circulation.
The tunnel must remain at a constant temperature so as not to affect trains as they enter from the frigid Franco-Swiss winter.