The Swiss New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) is an innovative railway project involving three tunnels constructed under the Alps in Switzerland. While two tunnels have been completed, the third tunnel is currently undergoing significant expansion work.
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. Although the NRLA was finished in 2020, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel is currently under expansion, with the project expected to be completed by 2035.
Costing around 12.2 billion Swiss francs (£11.3 billion), the initiative aims to reduce road traffic and minimize environmental impact. The Swiss New Rail Link connects eight cities across two countries, including Zurich, Basel, Lugano, Bellinzona, Lucerne, and Bern in Switzerland, as well as Milan and Genoa in Italy.
Over the years, Switzerland has built over 1,400 tunnels, stretching 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) underground. The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy, and Communications described the NRLA as the largest construction project in Swiss railway history. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, measuring 57 kilometers, started operating in 2016 after 17 years of construction.
The Ceneri Base Tunnel, spanning 15.4 kilometers, is another significant part of the NRLA project, with portals located in Camorino (Bellinzona) and Vezia near Lugano. The Federal Council intends to expand the Lötschberg Base Tunnel to two tracks by around 2034, enhancing capacity and operational stability for a continuous half-hourly passenger transport service.
Another major ongoing project is the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT), which will connect Austria and Italy.