Gothard Tunnel: description. Day of the Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland

The Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland has become one of the most grandiose buildings of our time. Although the world was more stirred by the ceremony of its opening. Details will be found later in the article.

Gotthard Tunnel

In June 2016 a new railway tunnel appeared in Switzerland. Its length was 57 kilometers, and if you take into account all pedestrian and service transitions, then all 153 kilometers. The opening of the Gotthard Tunnel became a bright and noisy event. After the builders paved the western and eastern branches, he received the title of the longest in the world.

The southern entrance to the tunnel is located near the village of Bodio, the northern one - near the village of Ertsfeld. For its laying, they extracted approximately 25 million tons of rock and spent more than 12 billion dollars. The operation is planned to begin only in 2017.

The Gotthard tunnel is called basic or basic. In German this name sounds like Basis and means that it is built right at the foot of the ridge. Thanks to this position of the tunnel, the train enters it from the flat area and can quickly gain speed.

History

The idea and plan of the tunnel arose in 1947. He was to have a length of 45 kilometers and connect Amsteg and Giornico. It was planned to make it double-track, with a congress for overtaking in the middle. And the speed of trains, almost as in the modern plan, was to reach 200 kilometers per hour.

Tunnel design options have changed many times. The impetus for the final decision was a significant load on the motorways. The Gotthard tunnel was supposed to solve this problem, and at the same time to reduce the harmful effect of truck exhausts in the clean Alpine region.

Preparation of the first works and plans began only in 1993. Instead of a double-track tunnel, it was decided to build two single-track tunnels, equipped with stations and congresses. Every 180 meters the tunnels should be connected by pedestrian galleries. Thus from one corridor one could get into another.

Opening Day

The opening day of the Gotthard Tunnel of Switzerland cost a considerable amount and became a real event. At the ceremony the country was not stingy, many media broadcast it online. At the very beginning of the festival, the place was sanctified with holy water and blessing. Then trains with passengers simultaneously entered into both tunnels.

After the trip, the spectators were given a stage performance, which made many world conspiracy scientists get excited. The action under the name "Sacred Gothard" resembled not an actor's production, but rather an occult ritual. Along with the rhythmically walking workers, strange creatures appeared on the scene, reminiscent of some kind of perfume.

The main person was a man with a goat mask and horns on his head. The big screen shows how it is released from the rock, trying to prevent workers. Then begin violent dances with people in fancy masks and costumes, the performance is accompanied by strange sounds and music.

This area has a long-standing legend associated with the construction of a mountain bridge. The devil helped to build it in exchange for the soul of the first visitor, but people deceived him by sending a goat instead of a man. So, perhaps, a masquerade is just a tribute to tradition, a free retelling of Swiss fairy tales.

The value of the tunnel

The Gotthard tunnel is a significant achievement in engineering. Before him, the longest in the world was the Japanese Seikan, which connects the two islands, Honshu and Hokkaido. More than 2,500 workers were involved in the construction. The last stages of the work were broadcast by local television.

The railway Gotthard tunnel will be able to pass up to three hundred trains a day at a speed of 200-250 km / h. Cross it can both freight and passenger trains. Now overcoming the path from Italy to Switzerland will be reduced by about an hour.

The tunnel is part of the Alptransit project, the total value of which exceeds $ 20 billion. Its operation will allow to unload the highway, reduce the negative impact of cars on the ecology of the region. In addition, this method of shipping is considered more efficient and less expensive.

Conclusion

Gotthard tunnel is a real victory for the country. To her Switzerland literally paved the way for more than seventeen years. The tunnel became the longest in the world, and according to some sources, the deepest. In certain places it reaches a depth of 2.3 kilometers under the ground.

Tens of years and billions were invested in a grandiose railway project. The launch of the tunnel is planned for 2017. And while the whole world is discussing not so much engineering skill, as a grand opening. The ceremony was a real godsend for lovers of conspiracy theories. Representatives of the church say that they saw in this the ritual of calling the devil and the subjects of the revelation.