Saint Gotthard Tunnel

railway tunnel, Switzerland [opened 1882]

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July 13, 2026

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The Saint-Gotthard Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Switzerland that opened in 1882. It is 9 miles (14 km) long and reaches a maximum elevation of 3,773 feet (1,150 meters). This tunnel connects Lucerne, Switzerland, with Milan, Italy, and was an important route for travel between central Europe and Italy. It runs beneath the Saint-Gotthard Pass, a mountain pass in the Lepontine Alps. The tunnel was a significant engineering achievement for its time, facilitating faster and more direct travel across the Alps.

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tunnels and underground excavations
Canal and railroad tunnels
…Alpine railroad tunnels: the 9-mile St. Gotthard Pass (1872–82), which introduced compressed-air locomotives and suffered major problems with water inflow, weak rock, and bankrupt contractors; the 12-mile Simplon (1898–1906); and the 9-mile Lötschberg (1906–11), on a northern continuation of the Simplon railroad line.
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…Alpine railroad tunnels: the 9-mile St. Gotthard Pass (1872–82), which introduced compressed-air locomotives and suffered major problems with water inflow, weak rock, and bankrupt contractors; the 12-mile Simplon (1898–1906); and the 9-mile Lötschberg (1906–11), on a northern continuation of the Simplon railroad line.
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St. Gotthard Pass
Beneath the pass the old St. Gotthard Tunnel (constructed 1872–80) extends for more than 9 miles (14 km) and reaches a maximum elevation of 3,773 feet (1,150 meters). The railway (opened 1882) through the tunnel connects Lucerne, Switzerland, with Milan. This route includes several spiral tunnels in the Reuss and…
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Beneath the pass the old St. Gotthard Tunnel (constructed 1872–80) extends for more than 9 miles (14 km) and reaches a maximum elevation of 3,773 feet (1,150 meters). The railway (opened 1882) through the tunnel connects Lucerne, Switzerland, with Milan. This route includes several spiral tunnels in the Reuss and…
Read More