The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) is a railway tunnel beneath the Alps in Switzerland.
With a route length of 57 km (35.4 mi) and a total of 151.84 km (94.3 mi) of tunnels, shafts and passages, it is the world's longest rail tunnel, surpassing the undersea Seikan Tunnel in Japan.
Miners celebrate as fireworks explode after a giant drill machine broke through the rock at the final section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a length of 57 km (35 miles).
Miners watch as the drill machine "Sissi" breaks through the rock at the final section Faido-Sedrun construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel October 15, 2010. With a length of 57 km (35 miles) crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2017.REUTERSMiners wave a Swiss national flag and flag of the canton Grisons as they celebrate after the drill machine 'Sissi' broke through the rock at the final section Faido-Sedrun, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel October 15, 2010. With a length of 57 km (35 miles) crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2017. REUTERSMiners hold a statue of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, as fireworks explode after a giant drill machine broke through the rock at the final section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a lenght of 57 km (35 miles).REUTERSMiners wave with the flags of their home countries as they celebrate after a giant drill machine broke through the rock at the final section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a length of 57 km (35 miles). REUTERSA detail picture shows the moment as a giant drill machine breaks through the rock at the western tunnel section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a length of 57 km (35 miles). REUTERSMembers of the mine rescue brigade use hoses to spray water as a drill machine breaks through the rock at the western tunnel section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a length of 57 km (35 miles). REUTERSMiner Ernst Guenther (R) holds a statue of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, after a drill machine broke through the rock at the final section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a lenght of 57 km (35 miles). REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann (SWITZERLAND) March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a lenght of 57 km (35 miles). REUTERSA miner stands in front of a giant drill machine after it broke through at the final section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a lenght of 57 km (35 miles).REUTERS
