Why Switzerland Bored Under the Alps

Switzerland spent two decades and billions of francs on the NRLA program: the Lotschberg, Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels.

The goal was a nearly flat rail route under the Alps so that 4,000 tonne freight trains could cross without pushing locomotives, and passengers could speed at 250 km/h.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel alone replaced a mountain line climbed since 1882, and Switzerland now moves more alpine freight by rail than any of its neighbors..