Longest tunnel in the world opens in Switzerland

17 years after the start of construction, the Saint Gothard Base Tunnel, which crosses the Swiss Alps, is now in operation. After the inauguration in June, which was attended by the heads of state of Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy, the first commercial trip was finally made on December 11, 2016, with the train leaving Zurich, to the north of the country, and reaching Lugano, to the south.

Figure 1 – Operational tests in the Saint Gothard base tunnel, carried out in September 2016. The tunnel made its first commercial trip in December.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SBB_-_Gothard_Base_Tunnel_GBT_(29223270723).jpg

For those who are not familiar, Switzerland is a central country in Europe that borders some of the most important countries on the continent, such as France, Germany and Italy. More than 60% of its territory is under the Alps, the famous European mountain range, a fact that gives the country some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the region. On the other hand, the mountain range offers an enormous challenge when it comes to transporting people and cargo.

The Saint Gothard Base Tunnel project was discussed in 1992, when a referendum was held to consider the population's opinion on the public investments that would be made in the work. The population not only supported the project but also reiterated this opinion in a second referendum, which pointed to the need for an increase in the previous budget. This support from the Swiss people was essential for the continuity of the project, given its grandeur and complexity. Put in numbers, it is possible to understand why it is called by many Swiss people “The project of the century”.

The Saint Gothard tunnel is currently the longest tunnel in the world, at 57 km long (surpassing the Japanese tunnel in Seikan by 3,2 km and the Eurotunnel, which connects France and England under the English Channel, by 7 km ). The tunnel reaches a depth of up to 2,3 km, between rocks that reach temperatures of up to 46° C. Due to this heat, a robust cooling system was installed. For the movement of trains, two parallel tunnels were built, each one designated for transport in one direction, which avoids any risk of collision between trains in opposite directions. Between the two tunnels, passages were placed, which can be used in emergency cases, every 300 m. Furthermore, the tunnel's communication and control systems are state-of-the-art, allowing safe and efficient operation.

The price for the size of the undertaking also draws attention: the total cost of the project was 11 billion euros. Although the price and deadline seemed absurd, it is worth mentioning that the project only exceeded 20% of its estimated budget (which is quite positive for projects with such characteristics) and was delivered before the agreed deadline. As a comparative effect on project management, the construction of the Brazilian Transnordestina Railroad has already lasted 10 years (7 of which were delayed), there is no defined deadline for completion, and the initial budget of R$ 4,5 billion today already exceeds R$ 11 billion.

Regarding the capacity of the tunnel, it is estimated that, per day, 65 trains will pass through carrying passengers and 260 with goods. Initially the trains will travel at 200 km/h, but can reach up to 250 km/h. The travel time between Zurich and Milan, for example, will be reduced by 1 hour. As Switzerland is one of the main connections between the Port of Rotterdam (the largest in Europe) and Italy, the tunnel will represent a substantial gain in product transfer times, in addition to reducing road traffic and environmental impacts, due to the use of a cleaner modal. Now, the same railway line connects Dutch Harbor to Genoa, Italy, creating a direct and efficient link between the North Sea and the Mediterranean. The tunnel will have the capacity to transport 40 million tons per year. Knowing that 465 million tons pass through the Port of Rotterdam annually, the Saint Gothard tunnel will be able to transport almost 9% of the goods received in the largest port in Europe, which reveals the importance and relevance of the undertaking in logistical terms.

The video below shows how the inauguration of the June tunnel was, in addition to explaining some of the main points related to the project.