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“It's taken 17 years and cost 12.2 billion Swiss francs (about $12 billion) but Switzerland is finally ready to inaugurate the world's largest railway tunnel. The ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the 57-kilometer (35.4 mile) tunnel through the Alps will be greeted with great fanfare with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy on hand. The thoroughfare aims to cut travel times, ease roadway traffic and draw cargo from pollution-spewing lorries trucking between Europe's north and south. Once it opens for commercial service in December, the two-way tunnel will take up to 260 freight trains and 65 passenger trains per day. The Gotthard Base Tunnel eclipses Japan's 53.8-kilometer Seikan Tunnel as the world's longest and burrows deeper – 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) – than any other rail tunnel”. – The Associated Press

In this October 8, 2015 file photo a test train drives close to the northern gate near Erstfeld, Switzerland. The celebrations of the opening of the Gotthard  Base Tunnel  will start on June 1, 2016. With a length of 57 km (35 miles) crossing the Alps, the Gotthard Base tunnel is the  world's longest train tunnel. (Photo by Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP Photo)

In this October 8, 2015 file photo a test train drives close to the northern gate near Erstfeld, Switzerland. The celebrations of the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel will start on June 1, 2016. With a length of 57 km (35 miles) crossing the Alps, the Gotthard Base tunnel is the world's longest train tunnel. (Photo by Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP Photo)



In this October 31, 2013 file photo construction workers are busy in the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel between Biasca and Amsteg, Switzerland.  The celebrations of the opening of the Gotthard  Base Tunnel  will start on June 1, 2016. (Photo by Karl Mathis/Keystone via AP Photo)

In this October 31, 2013 file photo construction workers are busy in the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel between Biasca and Amsteg, Switzerland. The celebrations of the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel will start on June 1, 2016. (Photo by Karl Mathis/Keystone via AP Photo)



In this June 16, 2009 file photo minors watch the tunnel drilling machine “Gabi” breaking through the last section of the AlpTransit “New Railway Link through the Alps” (NRLA) tunnel between Erstfeld and Amsteg, Switzerland. The celebrations of the opening of the Gotthard  Base Tunnel  will start on June 1, 2016. (Photo by Sigi Tischler/Keystone via AP Photo)

In this June 16, 2009 file photo minors watch the tunnel drilling machine “Gabi” breaking through the last section of the AlpTransit “New Railway Link through the Alps” (NRLA) tunnel between Erstfeld and Amsteg, Switzerland. The celebrations of the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel will start on June 1, 2016. (Photo by Sigi Tischler/Keystone via AP Photo)



In this September 6, 2006 file photo miners celebrate a breakthrough in the NEAT Gotthard base tunnel in Faido, Switzerland. The celebrations of the opening of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel will start on June 1, 2016. (Photo by Karl Mathis/Keystone via AP Photo)

In this September 6, 2006 file photo miners celebrate a breakthrough in the NEAT Gotthard base tunnel in Faido, Switzerland. The celebrations of the opening of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel will start on June 1, 2016. (Photo by Karl Mathis/Keystone via AP Photo)



A train drives past the northern gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland March 31, 2016. The 57.1-km (35.5 mile)-long Gotthard Base Tunnel, 17 years under construction and designed to last a century, is part of a 23 billion Swiss franc infrastructure project to speed passengers and cargo by rail under the mountain chain that divides Europe's north and south. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

A train drives past the northern gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland March 31, 2016. The 57.1-km (35.5 mile)-long Gotthard Base Tunnel, 17 years under construction and designed to last a century, is part of a 23 billion Swiss franc infrastructure project to speed passengers and cargo by rail under the mountain chain that divides Europe's north and south. Around 260 freight trains and 65 passenger trains will traverse the two-tube tunnel daily once final testing ends later this year. Engineers had to dig and blast through 73 kinds of rock as hard as granite and as soft as sugar. Nine workers died. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)



A general view shows the northern gates (L) of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland May 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

A general view shows the northern gates (L) of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland May 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)



A train drives past the northern gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland March 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

A train drives past the northern gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland March 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)



Journalists walk in front of mock gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel inside the event hall for the upcoming opening ceremony near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland March 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

Journalists walk in front of mock gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel inside the event hall for the upcoming opening ceremony near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland March 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)



Journalists stand in front of mock gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel inside the event hall for the upcoming opening ceremony near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland May 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

Journalists stand in front of mock gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel inside the event hall for the upcoming opening ceremony near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland May 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)



Swiss police officers stand beside of mock gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel inside the event hall for the upcoming opening ceremony near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland May 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

Swiss police officers stand beside of mock gates of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel inside the event hall for the upcoming opening ceremony near the town of Erstfeld, Switzerland May 31, 2016. (Photo by Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)
01 Jun 2016 12:14:00