118: 12.189 billion at its 1998 start; in December 2015, its final cost was projected to be CHF 17.900 billion. The 1998 projected total cost of the Gotthard Base Tunnel was CHF 6.323 billion; in December 2015, its final cost was projected to be CHF 9.560 billion. It opened on 1 June 2016, and became operational on 11 December of that year. The Ceneri Base Tunnel was opened on 3 September 2020 and became fully operational in December 2020 and is an important feeder for the Gotthard Base Tunnel. A decision between a full or partial completion of the second tube of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel is expected in 2023.
22:
1179:
300:
1261:
127:
1273:
353:, as was the original 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) Gotthard Tunnel at its completion in 1881. It consists of two single-track tunnels, connected by 178 cross-connections. There are two emergency stations in each tunnel, each connected to the corresponding opposite-tunnel emergency station. These stations are equipped with water supplies to refill firefighter and rescue trains. One (
420:
2019. A decision now needs to be made between fitting out the existing 14 km of unequipped tunnels and a full completion of the second tube, and is expected in 2023. The full option is naturally more expensive and takes two years longer, but it provides a much higher capacity and avoids an eight months full closure of the line.
357:) was proposed as an 800m deep rail station, but that proposal was rejected on both economic and technical grounds. AlpTransit Gotthard handed the completed tunnel over to the Swiss government on 31 May 2016. It was formally opened in a ceremony the next day, during which the tunnel was conveyed to its operator:
210:, which prohibits road-building in the Alps and encourages the transport of as many transalpine goods as possible by rail rather than road, and the 1998 Traffic Transfer Act, which sets an ideal maximum number of trucks crossing the Alps by road. Meeting this goal requires a fully functional NRLA rail link.
419:
or must wait for the next available timetable slot in their direction in the tunnel, causing major further delays. A planning contract was awarded in 2016 for the completion of the second track of the LBT, which is estimated to cost 1 billion Swiss francs. The resulting plan was presented in Spring
220:
In 1998, the total projected cost of the NRLA project was CHF 12.189 billion; in
December 2015, the final cost was projected to be CHF 17.900 billion. The projected cost of its centerpiece, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, was CHF 6.323 billion in 1998; in December 2015, the
410:
and only one of the tunnel's two bores has been completed and is fully equipped for rail use. 14 kilometers of the other bore are completed; 14 kilometers are excavated but not equipped, and 7 kilometers have not been excavated. High-speed switches allow the completed 40% of the second bore to be
405:
for most traffic. The 34.6-kilometre-long (21.5 mi) base tunnel opened to traffic on 7 December 2007; it was the first part of the NRLA to be delivered, but is only partially completed. Because of NRLA cost overruns, funding for the axis was diverted to the
275:
project regarding the modernization of the railways. The
Federal Council's request was approved with 63.5% support. The fund is replenished primarily by the previously mentioned kilometre-based tax on heavy-goods vehicles (HVF) and partially by taxes on
540:"Oberaufsicht über den Bau der Neat im Jahre 2015: Bericht der Neat-Aufsichtsdelegation der eidgenössischen Räte zuhanden der Finanzkommissionen, der Geschäftsprüfungskommissionen und der Kommissionen für Verkehr und Fernmeldewesen"
146:), Switzerland demanded a limitation on transalpine truck traffic. When the EEC refused, Swiss negotiators instead proposed a heavy-vehicle fee (HVF), a kilometre-based tax on freight vehicles, for all lorries above 3.5
165:
be raised to 48 tonnes. The parties eventually compromised on a 40-tonne weight limit. The bilateral Land
Transport Agreement with the European Union was signed, agreeing to an increase of the kilometer-based tax (HVF;
221:
tunnel's cost was an estimated CHF 9.560 billion. The 1998 cost of the Lötschberg axis was an estimated CHF 3.214 billion; in
December 2015, it was an estimated CHF 4.237 billion.
1029:
802:
415:
complicates operations and greatly reduces the line capacity. Trains are scheduled by batches in each direction and separated by long intervals; trains more than seven minutes late are routed via the
244:
168:
43:
213:
The original plans for the NRLA were to construct only one main base tunnel, but regional disputes prevented a choice between the two options and threatened to jeopardize the entire project. The
287:
The bilateral agreements with the EU containing the 40-tonne limit and the implementation of the HVF were finally accepted by the Swiss populace on 21 May 2000 with 67.2% support in a federal
1007:
1145:
973:
1055:
885:
750:
724:
1212:
776:
199:
from 1.6 ct/tkm to 1.8 ct/tkm when the NRLA was completed. The condition was deemed fulfilled at the completion of the first track of the
999:
669:
1081:
271:), funding them with time-limited CHF 30 billion fund of which the NRLA would receive 13.6 billion. Another major project was the
698:
1202:
611:
1095:
1305:
227:
Two years later on 20 February 1994, the Swiss populace unexpectedly also accepted with 51.9% support the Alps protecting initiative, a
427:, completed in 1905 as a 20-kilometre-long (12 mi) single-track base tunnel and augmented with a second bore in 1921. It connects
1175:
640:
453:
1310:
242:
Another mandatory referendum was held on 19 November 1998 about the creation of funds for four major public-transport projects (
338:
This enables a high-speed link through the Alps with a top speed of 250 km/h (160 mph), reducing travel time between
1135:
335:. The axis is the first flat trans-alpine rail link, with a maximum elevation of 550 metres (1,800 ft) above sea level.
1295:
917:
1136:
A construction project serving Europe – The opening of the
Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2016 by Presence Switzerland, FDFA
828:
1130:
228:
892:
1300:
1167:
458:
236:
593:
448:
232:
151:
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311:) to the southern plains. In the background here looms the majestic 3,073-metre-high (10,082 ft)
239:
endorsing the initiative, and their not even considering providing a counterproposal to the populace.
111:
subsidiary BLS Alp
Transit AG (now BLS Netz AG) were founded for this project and built the tunnels.
1233:
857:
647:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 27 September 1992
370:
200:
96:
783:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 29 November 1998
731:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 20 February 1995
705:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 24 February 1994
161:. The EU accepted the Swiss offer in 2000, but requested that the extant 28-tonne weight limit for
1062:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 9 December 2007
350:
1217:
1125:
358:
324:
104:
980:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 1 June 2016
757:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 29 May 1995
676:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 21 May 2000
568:
217:
therefore decided in 1995 to build two base tunnels (Gotthard and Lötschberg) simultaneously.
618:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT. 2 May 1992
332:
214:
416:
331:(CBT), and surface connections. It was built by AlpTransit Gotthard under contract from the
307:
is the first flat route through any major mountain range, from the northern plains (here in
1197:
539:
407:
320:
304:
158:
131:
92:
402:
87:. It consists of two axes with several improvements along these rails including three new
8:
1140:
288:
196:
1277:
1207:
1160:
328:
100:
91:
several hundred metres below the existing apex tunnels, the 57-kilometre (35 mi)
401:. The tunnel replaces the existing higher-altitude 1913 14.6-kilometre (9.1 mi)
390:
411:
used as a passing track, but the 21 kilometres (13 mi) of single track without
1265:
945:
835:
428:
264:
188:
69:
21:
299:
1036:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT
809:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT
516:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT
490:. Berne, Switzerland: Federal Swiss Archives FSA, Federal Office of Transport FOT
256:
248:
224:
Swiss voters approved the NRLA project on 27 September 1992, with 63.6% support.
207:
180:
172:
58:
47:
1131:
The New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) by the
Federal Office of Transport FOT
483:
1238:
946:"Gotthard tunnel: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel opens in Switzerland"
922:
432:
424:
143:
26:
1289:
1153:
377:, was built by BLS Alp Transit. It supports the western transit network via
1260:
412:
374:
354:
886:"Gotthard- und CeneriBasistunnel: die neue Gotthard-Bahn nimmt Gestalt an"
1178:
862:
394:
115:
88:
80:
284:
revenues, and funds from the general budget of the Swiss
Confederation.
231:
initiated by just a few private citizens. This was despite neither the
84:
126:
1082:"Planning contract awarded for Lötschberg Base Tunnel track doubling"
926:(graphical animation) (in German). ZĂĽrich, Switzerland. 14 April 2016
549:(in German, French, and Italian). p. 6686. BBl 2016 6665 (-6732)
272:
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950:
436:
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83:
construction project for faster north–south rail links across the
312:
162:
150:
and offered to build a high-speed rail link through the Alps for
346:
from previously four hours to currently three-and-a-half hours.
280:
originally intended for road-building, a small fraction of the
108:
349:
The 57.1-kilometre (35.5 mi) Gotthard Base Tunnel is the
398:
382:
378:
343:
147:
1141:
Alpine
Initiative site with political background information
1116:
537:
386:
157:
Swiss voters approved the rail link in a 27 September 1992
281:
829:"Gotthard Base Tunnel: Tunnel technology for the future"
138:
During late-1980s and early-1990s negotiations with the
1249:
206:Other relevant Swiss legislation includes the 1994
594:"Lötschberg Base Tunnel Upgrade Enters Next Stage"
1287:
63:nouvelle ligne ferroviaire Ă travers les Alpes,
588:
586:
538:Thomas MĂĽller; Isidor Baumann (29 April 2016).
423:The second part of the Lötschberg axis is the
1161:
1000:"Festival marks Gotthard Base Tunnel opening"
974:"High-profile guests at the opening ceremony"
938:
855:
571:. Luzern, Switzerland: AlpTransit Gotthard AG
130:Three-way junction under construction in the
1096:"Lötschberg plans full rail baseline finish"
583:
533:
531:
114:The total projected cost of the project was
25:The NRLA project is the centrepiece of the
1168:
1154:
351:world's longest and deepest traffic tunnel
528:
303:Called "the project of the century", the
291:initiated by opposing political parties.
454:History of rail transport in Switzerland
298:
125:
20:
478:
476:
474:
121:
1288:
1184:New Railway Link through the Alps NRLA
1048:
751:"Transport policy as financial policy"
635:
633:
107:subsidiary AlpTransit Gotthard AG and
1149:
920:[Who has the longest tube?].
664:
662:
99:, and the 15-kilometre (9.3 mi)
1088:
725:"Green light for the network option"
693:
691:
471:
910:
630:
502:
13:
1306:Rail infrastructure in Switzerland
891:. Geomatik Schweiz. Archived from
856:Shafy, Samiha (31 December 2006).
659:
364:
319:The Gotthard axis consists of the
52:Neue Eisenbahn-Alpentransversale,
14:
1322:
1110:
1056:"The Lötschberg enters operation"
1006:. DVV Media UK Ltd. 1 June 2016.
777:"Yes to public transport funding"
688:
323:(GBT), the partially operational
35:New Railway Link through the Alps
1271:
1259:
1177:
1010:from the original on 1 June 2016
294:
95:, the 35-kilometre (22 mi)
1074:
1022:
992:
966:
878:
849:
821:
795:
769:
743:
717:
670:"The end of the 28-tonne limit"
1311:Railway tunnels in Switzerland
604:
561:
459:High-speed rail in Switzerland
369:The Lötschberg axis, with the
1:
464:
449:Rail transport in Switzerland
918:"Wer hat die grösste Röhre?"
858:"Elevator to the Underworld"
699:"Yes to the Alps Initiative"
152:intermodal freight transport
74:Nuova ferrovia transalpina,
7:
1296:International railway lines
442:
140:European Economic Community
10:
1327:
834:. Heerbrugg, Switzerland:
569:"The Gotthard Base Tunnel"
237:two parliamentary chambers
229:federal popular initiative
1226:
1190:
361:(SBB CFF FFS).
1030:"Results for Lötschberg"
333:Swiss Federal Government
142:(the predecessor of the
612:"Agreement with Europe"
1234:Lötschberg Base Tunnel
1218:Zimmerberg Base Tunnel
1126:Swiss Federal Archives
803:"Results for Gotthard"
371:Lötschberg Base Tunnel
359:Swiss Federal Railways
325:Zimmerberg Base Tunnel
316:
268:
260:
252:
201:Lötschberg Base Tunnel
192:
184:
176:
135:
105:Swiss Federal Railways
97:Lötschberg Base Tunnel
73:
62:
51:
30:
1301:International tunnels
302:
215:Swiss Federal Council
129:
24:
1198:Gotthard Base Tunnel
408:Gotthard Base Tunnel
321:Gotthard Base Tunnel
305:Gotthard Base Tunnel
159:mandatory referendum
132:Gotthard Base Tunnel
122:Political background
93:Gotthard Base Tunnel
289:optional referendum
1208:Ceneri Base Tunnel
1100:www.tunneltalk.com
1084:. 1 February 2016.
866:. Hamburg, Germany
329:Ceneri Base Tunnel
317:
136:
101:Ceneri Base Tunnel
31:
16:Swiss rail project
1247:
1246:
1122:AlpTransit Portal
1060:AlpTransit Portal
1034:AlpTransit Portal
978:AlpTransit Portal
807:AlpTransit Portal
781:AlpTransit Portal
755:AlpTransit Portal
729:AlpTransit Portal
703:AlpTransit Portal
674:AlpTransit Portal
645:AlpTransit Portal
641:"Yes to the NRLA"
616:AlpTransit Portal
514:AlpTransit Portal
488:AlpTransit Portal
403:Lötschberg Tunnel
1318:
1276:
1275:
1274:
1264:
1263:
1255:
1182:
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1170:
1163:
1156:
1147:
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844:
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836:Leica Geosystems
833:
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598:railway-news.com
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27:Central European
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1316:
1315:
1286:
1285:
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1272:
1270:
1258:
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1227:Lötschberg axis
1222:
1213:Urmiberg Tunnel
1186:
1176:
1174:
1113:
1108:
1107:
1094:
1093:
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1080:
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1065:
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1053:
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1037:
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1023:
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1004:Railway Gazette
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898:on 4 March 2016
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365:Lötschberg axis
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233:Federal Council
208:Alps initiative
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12:
11:
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1239:Simplon Tunnel
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510:"Construction"
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433:Northern Italy
425:Simplon Tunnel
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1191:Gotthard axis
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954:. 1 June 2016
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413:passing loops
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373:(LBT) in the
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29:rail network.
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900:. Retrieved
893:the original
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355:Porta Alpina
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89:base tunnels
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38:
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32:
18:
1278:Switzerland
1203:Axen Tunnel
863:Der Spiegel
395:Domodossola
253:FinöV-Fonds
1290:Categories
575:15 October
484:"Overview"
465:References
85:Swiss Alps
1266:Transport
315:mountain.
273:Bahn 2000
269:Fondo FTP
261:Fonds FTP
245:‹See Tfd›
203:in 2007.
169:‹See Tfd›
44:‹See Tfd›
1008:Archived
951:BBC News
443:See also
439:region.
437:Piedmont
417:old line
309:Erstfeld
278:gasoline
235:nor the
79:), is a
1252:Portals
1124:of the
313:Bristen
265:Italian
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163:lorries
134:in 2006
70:Italian
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1014:1 June
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340:ZĂĽrich
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344:Milan
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197:HGVs
185:RPLP
177:LSVA
76:NFTA
65:NLFA
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116:CHF
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