Alp base tunnel

The Alp Base Tunnel will have little or no affect on the RhB, but will have a huge effect on the standard gauge Gottard line farther west. When the Base tunnel is opened in two years or so, the only trains that will use the scenic old route with its spiral tunnels and great vistas will be local passenger trains. Virtually all the freight and high speed passenger trains will use the base tunnel. The tunnel itself is completed and what remains to be done is the installation of some the rail facilities and stuff like ventilation. I was visiting Switzerland for a reunion with some of my old business colleagues, and one of our reunion activities was a tour of the base tunnel project at the underground Faido multipurpose location (basically an underground train station for emergencies). In the presentation prior to the tour, one of the things that really impressed me is that about 75 percent of the multi-billion franc cost is being paid by taxes that truckers pay. Most of the trucks are going between northern Europe and Italy, and the Swiss are really tired of all the trucks passing through their country and clogging their roads.

JBWX



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2014 01:19PM by John West.