Opening events Gotthard Base Tunnel

inauguration days, public allowed experience high-speed travel below alps first time, , move between exhibitions held in erstfeld , bodio.

in 2016, several events, including festivities , special exhibitions, held around gotthard, culminating in inaugurations in june, dubbed gottardo 2016. public institutions joined celebrations: swiss post issued special stamp commemorating gotthard base tunnel, , swissmint issued gold , silver coins dedicated opening.

on 31 may 2016, day before inauguration, 9 people died during construction commemorated in ceremony @ north portal in erstfeld led catholic vicar general, vicar of evangelical-reformed church of uri, jewish rabbi, , muslim imam. bronze memorial plaque names — 4 coming germany, 3 italy, , 1 each of south africa , austria – unveiled alptransit gotthard ag ceo renzo simoni. catholic shrine saint barbara, patron of miners, stands inside tunnel memorial.

sedrun multifunction station viewed control cab of gottardino train.

the tunnel officially inaugurated on 1 june 2016. @ northern entrance in erstfeld, president of confederation johann schneider-ammann spoke of giant step switzerland equally our neighbours , rest of continent , while live relay carried speech given transport minister doris leuthard @ southern entrance in bodio. first journey carried hundreds of swiss citizens had won tickets in draw, while assembled guests in erstfeld, including federal council in corpore, heads of state , government neighbouring countries , transport ministers european countries, attended opening show sacre del gottardo volker hesse featuring 600 dancers, acrobats, singers , musicians celebrating alpine culture , myths around gotthard. on following weekend, popular festivities , special exhibitions, attended more 100,000 visitors, held.

from 2 august 27 november 2016, swiss federal railways ran special train service through tunnel called gottardino open public. once-daily service flüelen railway station biasca railway station , in reverse. trains made stop inside tunnel, allow passengers visit exhibition inside underground multifunction station in sedrun used in emergency only.

regular services

during 2016, gbt tested extensively before integration regular schedule on 11 december. on 5 december, swiss federal railways granted permission federal transport office use new base line. while base tunnel used intercity trains (icn) , eurocity trains (ec), summit line remains in use regional trains. 2019 onwards, gotthard axis served stadler ec250 (giruno), high-speed train , future flagship of sbb fleet.

from amsteg portal, guided tours organised inside gotthard base tunnel complex. window allows visitors watch trains running in tunnel.