On Sunday, December 11, the world’s longest and deepest train tunnel opened for service in Switzerland. The Gotthard Base Tunnel took 17 years to build and connects Zurich to Lugano at 35.4 miles long and 7,546 feet deep.
The tunnel only takes 17 minutes to travel through and provides an alternate travel route to going over or around the Alps mountain range. This will create more convenient connections between north and south Switzerland, as well as to nearby neighboring countries.
Tourists will also benefit from the faster travel route, leaving them with more time for exploring the area. Generally traveling that distance could take 45 minutes to an hour, so the new train option is a much-improved way of doing things.
Previously Japan held the record for the longest tunnel with the 33.4-mile Seikan tunnel, and the second place spot went to the 31 mile Channel tunnel which connects Britain and France. Now Gotthard Base tunnel has moved to the forefront.
