Switzerland Opens Longest Land Tunnel

After eight years in construction, the 34km Loetschberg rail tunnel – the longest tunnel on land in the world – has reopened.

The tunnel – estimated to have cost $4bn – is to be fully operational in December with about 42 passenger trains and up to 80 freight trains a day.

Switzerland acts as one of Europe's major junctions for freight and the tunnel will move cargo off the roads and onto rail. A second rail route will be the 60km Gotthard rail tunnel due for completion in 2015, which will cut travel time from Zurich to Milan to only two-and-a-half hours.