World's longest tunnel to make Alps "disappear"
(17 June 2009)A high-speed rail link joining the Swiss city of Zurich with the Italian city of Milan will feature the world's longest tunnel: a 57km (35-mile) -long pathway running beneath the Alps.
Over 2,000 Swiss engineers are working 24 hours a day on the route that cuts through the base of the mountain range, dividing northern and southern Europe.
Trains travelling the route, which is due for completion in 2018, will reach speeds of 240kph (149mph), slashing the travel time between Zurich and Milan down to just 2 hours 30 minutes.
"The thing about this tunnel is that it makes the Alps disappear," said architect Arthur Loretz.
"At the moment, when you drive from Zurich to Milan, you get a beautiful panoramic view. But this tunnel turns the Alps into a big black hole."
Travellers will not only be able to zip between the two cities, but, for those wanting to stop off for a scenic mountain break, project bosses have revealed plans for an underground station: Porta Alpina (Gateway to the Alps).
"Tourists will be able to arrive by train in the Alps in record time, and then be whisked up to fresh mountain air by way of the world's longest elevator," said Mr Loretz.
The cost of the project is expected to hit $15 billion.
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