Switzerland’s nationwide rail operator says the world’s longest rail tunnel received’t be absolutely reopened to coach site visitors till subsequent September, once more pushing again the goal date for repairs of harm brought on by a cargo practice derailment
ByThe Related Press
November 2, 2023, 9:05 AM
GENEVA — Switzerland’s nationwide rail operator mentioned Thursday the world’s longest rail tunnel will not be absolutely reopened to coach site visitors till subsequent September, once more pushing again the goal date for repairs of harm brought on by a cargo practice derailment.
The Swiss federal railway operator, identified by its German-language acronym SBB, mentioned the injury from the Aug. 10 derailment within the Gotthard tunnel, Switzerland’s fundamental north-south rail thoroughfare, is “far more vital than first imagined.”
“The rail tracks have to be solely changed over 7 kilometers (4.2 miles). The work will take far more time than anticipated,” SBB mentioned. The price of the repairs is predicted to be 100 million to 130 million Swiss francs (about $110 million to $140 million).
Restricted passenger and cargo practice site visitors by means of the tunnel is continuous. Beforehand, SBB mentioned restore work would proceed by means of the top of this yr.
Nobody was injured within the derailment, however the injury was appreciable. Giant swaths of observe and an evacuation portal had been torn up.
The tunnel is a vital thoroughfare for items and cargo, notably between Germany to the north and Italy to the south. Final yr, greater than two-thirds of rail freight site visitors by means of the Alps handed by means of the tunnel, in keeping with the Swiss authorities.