A monumental £11.3 billion engineering project is unfolding beneath the Swiss Alps, designed to revolutionise freight and passenger transport across Europe by taking countless lorries and cars off the roads.
The NRLA: A Trio of Alpine Engineering Marvels
The Swiss New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) is a transformative infrastructure scheme centred on three base tunnels drilled through the mountain range. While the network was officially completed in 2020, significant expansion work continues on one key section. The system includes the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which at 57 kilometres holds the title of the world's longest railway tunnel, the Ceneri Base Tunnel, and the Lötschberg Base Tunnel.
The Swiss Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications has called the NRLA the largest construction project in the history of Swiss railways. The Gotthard tunnel alone took 17 years to build before opening in 2016.
Ongoing Expansion for Greater Capacity
Although operational, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel is currently undergoing a major upgrade to a full double-track configuration. This expansion, with a completion target of 2035, is crucial for boosting capacity and operational reliability. Once finished, it will enable a consistent half-hourly service for passenger trains.
The overarching goal of the entire 12.2 billion Swiss franc endeavour is to shift traffic from road to rail, significantly cutting environmental damage and pollution across the Alpine region. This forms part of Switzerland's broader transport strategy, a nation that has already excavated more than 1,400 tunnels totalling over 2,000 kilometres in length.
Connecting Major European Hubs
This enhanced rail network will seamlessly connect eight major cities across two countries. In Switzerland, it links Zurich, Basel, Lugano, Bellinzona, Lucerne, and Bern. The line extends into Italy, providing direct routes to Milan and Genoa.
Separately, another massive trans-Alpine project, the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT), is under construction to create a direct link between Austria and Italy, further integrating European rail infrastructure and supporting sustainable transport goals.
