How Did Rail Links Affect Swiss Alps Crossings?

With the advent of the railway, the Gothard soon became "Europe's turntable." Italy and Germany joined Switzerland in 1869 in order to bring about the shortest rail link between northern and southern Europe. Ten years were needed to bore the nine-mile (15-kilometer) Gothard rail tunnel, which reaches an altitude of 3,790 feet (1,155 meters). Trains have thundered through the tunnel day and night since 1882.

The Swiss are proud of "their" Gothard line, which is completely electrified, as is practically all the Swiss rail network. On the one hand, travellers admire the technical achievements and the numerous approach tunnels. On the other hand, they never weary of the wealth of landscape to be discovered in four or five hours' travel aboard the comfortable trains. Often the weather is dull or even rainy at the northern entrance to the Gothard Tunnel. Then, what a surprise to come out of the tunnel under a radiant blue sky! A few more miles, and behold! Vines, chestnut trees, fig trees and peach trees, all testify to the mild southern climate, which is quite unknown north of the Alpine range. Truly, crossing the Gothard by train is an unforgettable pleasure.

In 1906, the Gothard Tunnel was supplanted as the longest by the Simplon Tunnel, which was to provide a more direct link between France and Italy across Switzerland. Construction began in 1898 on the first gallery, about 12.3 miles (19.8 kilometres) long, and it was opened to rail traffic in 1906. The second gallery, 20 yards (18 meters) longer, was begun in 1912, but could not be opened until 1922 because of the first world war. The Simplon Tunnel, which is the longest in the world, is situated at an altitude of 2,300 feet (700 meters), and the maximum depth of rock above the tunnel's vault is 7,000 feet (2,135 meters). Boring this tunnel was a particularly delicate operation, for seepage forced work to be abandoned on several occasions.