The Gotthard Base Tunnel eclipses Japan’s 53.8-kilometre Seikan Tunnel as the world’s longest and burrows deeper — 2.3 kilometres — than any other rail tunnel. Once it opens for commercial service in December, the two-way tunnel will take up to 260 freight trains and 65 passenger trains per day. GENEVA — It’s taken 17 years and cost 12.2 billion Swiss francs (about $16 billion) but Switzerland is finally ready to inaugurate the world’s largest railway tunnel. The thoroughfare aims to cut travel times, ease roadway traffic and draw cargo from pollution-spewing lorries trucking between Europe’s north and south. The ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the 57-kilometre tunnel through the Alps was greeted with great fanfare with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy on hand.

Source: National Post June 01, 2016 12:59 UTC