ON THE ROAD: Speeding through Switzerland’s Gotthard Pass Tunnel

Gothard tunnelAs we in California struggle to even begin building a high-speed train between Los Angeles and San Francisco — in part because of the “challenge” of tunneling under the Tehachapi Mountains —word comes via this Los Angeles Times story (LINK) that Switzerland has just opened the world’s longest rail train tunnel: 35.4 miles under the Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Switzerland and Italy.

http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-switzerland-rail-tunnel-20160601-snap-story.html

The new tunnel, which will carry both passenger and freight traffic at a maximum depth of 1.4 miles under the Alps, took 17 years to construct and cost 12.2 billion Swiss francs ($12 billion), but the project came in on time and under budget.

My wife and I have ridden through the older train tunnel (built in 1882) many times in our travels to Switzerland — there is also an auto tunnel constructed in 1980.

265px-Kirche_WassenThe old railway tunnel spiraled up and down inside the mountain, so much so that you pass a small church in Wassen (pictured left) three times during the circling maneuvers. However, the new tunnel is virtually a straight shot under the mountain and the trip will take about 20 minutes. When combined with two other new tunnels to open in December, the trip from Zurich to Milan will take about 2:40, an hour less than the current trip and the trip through the pass will reach speeds of more than 150 miles per hour.

Yes, California, it can be done!
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(c) Copyright 2016, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.

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