After being closed for over a year due to an accident, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, a crucial rail connection between Switzerland and Italy, is set to reopen on Monday. The closure was caused by a freight train derailment in August last year, which led to extensive damage to the tunnel. Investigations revealed that a broken wheel on the train was the cause of the accident.
The clean-up operation following the derailment was challenging due to the hot temperatures inside the tunnel, reaching almost 40 degrees Celsius. Repairing the damage is estimated to have cost 150 million Swiss francs (€159 million), more than initially expected.
The closure of the tunnel has had a significant impact on the rail freight sector, with freight trains being rerouted through the undamaged eastern tunnel in the meantime. This rerouting has been a costly and complex operation for rail freight operators, particularly those from Italy.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world at 57 kilometers, is a vital link between Switzerland’s German and Italian-speaking regions. It took 17 years to complete and cost 9.7 billion Swiss francs (€10.3 billion) to construct. Measures are being put in place to prevent similar accidents in the future, with a focus on early detection of derailments.
The reopening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel will come as a relief to rail freight operators and commuters alike, restoring an essential transportation link between Switzerland and Italy.
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