The Swiss New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) is a groundbreaking railway project that includes three tunnels constructed beneath the Alps in Switzerland. Two of these tunnels have been completed, while the third is currently undergoing significant expansion works and is expected to finish by 2035.
The NRLA features the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest railway tunnel, in addition to the Ceneri Base Tunnel and the Lötschberg Base Tunnel. The overall cost of the project is around 12.2 billion Swiss francs (£11.3 billion), with the goal of reducing road traffic and minimizing environmental impact.
This rail network connects eight cities across two countries, including Zurich, Basel, Lugano, Bellinzona, Lucerne, and Bern in Switzerland, as well as Milan and Genoa in Italy.
Switzerland has constructed more than 1,400 tunnels spanning 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) underground over the years. The NRLA is recognized as the largest construction endeavor in Swiss railway history, with the Gotthard Base Tunnel having started operations in 2016 after 17 years of construction.
The Ceneri Base Tunnel, at 15.4 kilometers long, is another significant NRLA project. Plans are in place to expand the Lötschberg Base Tunnel to accommodate two tracks by approximately 2034, enhancing capacity and operational efficiency for passenger transport.
Additionally, the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) is a major ongoing project that will connect Austria and Italy.