Gotthard Base Tunnel Marks 10 Years in Service.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest railway tunnel, has reached its tenth anniversary since opening on June 1, 2016. Stretching 57 kilometres beneath the Swiss Alps, the tunnel has significantly transformed both passenger and freight rail transport across Switzerland.

According to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), the tunnel has nearly doubled passenger demand along the north–south corridor over the past decade. It has become a key route connecting northern Switzerland with the southern canton of Ticino and beyond into Italy.

Since its inauguration, a total of approximately 169,000 passenger trains and 276,000 freight trains have passed through the tunnel. The infrastructure has strengthened Switzerland’s position as a central transit hub in Europe.

The opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel in 2020 further improved connectivity. Together, these major engineering projects have reduced travel time between Zurich and Lugano to just 1 hour and 53 minutes, saving around 50 minutes compared to pre-tunnel travel times.

Freight transport has also seen significant growth. In 2025, the volume of goods transported through the Gotthard corridor reached 24.2 million tonnes, compared to 17.8 million tonnes in 2015 before the tunnel became fully operational.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel is widely regarded as one of the most important infrastructure projects in modern European history. It enhances efficiency, reduces road congestion, and supports Switzerland’s long-term strategy of shifting freight transport from road to rail.

Ten years on, the tunnel continues to play a vital role in both passenger mobility and international trade, reinforcing Switzerland’s reputation for engineering excellence and sustainable transport solutions.