Results for Swiss Federal Railways SBB
The second tunnel
After the Gotthard, the Simplon Tunnel becomes the second rail line through the Swiss Alps. Now, western Switzerland is connected to the south.
View eventNationalisation of the Gotthard Railway Company
The SBB is created following the nationalisation of Switzerland’s major private railways. The last to be integrated is the Gotthard, which proves to be the most profitable line.
View eventThe battle with nature
Railways are a comparatively environmentally friendly means of transport. In the Alps, however, they come up against the forces of nature.
View eventWater replaces coal
Electrification of the Gotthard line is completed in 1924. Switzerland now gets the energy to power its trains from its own hydroelectric plants rather than coal from Prussia.
View eventRoad vs rail
After the Second World War, plans are made for a road tunnel through the Gotthard. In 1963 the SBB call for a base tunnel, but the Federal Council favours the road solution.
View eventThe abortive project begins
The plan for the first Gotthard Base Tunnel is thwarted by the economic crisis of the mid-1970s.
View eventCoordination of rail transport
For a long time, road and rail planning and construction are uncoordinated. While the road network is progressively modernised, the railways lag behind. In 1981 the federal government steps in.
View eventA dissertation revives a railway
Rarely has an academic dissertation caused such a political stir. Hans-Jörg Bertschi’s work lends new momentum to the NRLA.
View eventRail 2000
For all the talk of the NRLA, Rail 2000 is also a big part of the story. It encouraged the drive towards a denser rail network and an expanded infrastructure.
View eventThe SBB becomes a limited company
Rail Reform 1 aims at a gradual liberalisation of rail transport.
View eventUsing the tunnels to get away
The vast majority of passengers taking the train for their journey through the Alps are travelling not for business but for pleasure.
View eventHigh-profile guests at the opening ceremony
No expense is spared at the Gotthard Base Tunnel inauguration ceremony in 2016. Merkel, Hollande and Renzi are in attendance, but not the heads of the EU.
View event43,152 trains
In the opening months, traffic in the new Gotthard Base Tunnel occasionally grinds to a halt. The SBB lay on extra trains to cope.
View eventA vulnerable transport system
When the track subsides at Rastatt in summer 2017, traffic grinds to a halt. The collapse highlights the fragility of Europe’s rail system.
View eventWhither the mountain routes?
Not everyone is a winner from the NRLA. The future of the world-famous Gotthard mountain route through the Urseren Valley and the Leventina is still undecided.
View event