Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has announced that trains have started operating again through the repaired western tube of the Gotthard Base Tunnel as part of the ongoing test operations. The full reopening of the 57-kilometer tunnel, which is the longest railway tunnel in the world, is expected by September 2, 2024, for both passenger and freight services.
The test phase concluded successfully last week, allowing for the commencement of trial operations. The first commercial train to pass through the rehabilitated western tube was an early morning service departing from Chiasso at 5:30 AM on August 19, 2024, heading towards Basel SBB. This was followed by a freight train operated by SBB Cargo International, which traveled from Ludwigshafen, Germany, to Gallarate, Italy.
Leading up to the full reopening, SBB is conducting various cleaning procedures within the tunnel, with test and service trains running through the western tube to ensure all systems are functioning correctly. The initial phase of the trial operations is currently in progress, with trains primarily moving from north to south.
Once the Gotthard Base Tunnel is fully operational again on September 2, 2024, all InterCity, EuroCity, and freight trains will resume their routes through the tunnel, restoring the connection between German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. The reopening will also reinstate the half-hourly service, allowing passengers to once again travel between northern and southern Switzerland in about an hour, with regular services running throughout the day.
