The construction of the tunnel began in 1906 and suffered delays by several severe accidents. Since 1913, the Lötschberg Railway Tunnel has created a direct link between Bern and the Rhone Valley, its car-train providing the only direct route for the mountainous 9-mile stretch other than traversing the peaks of the Lötschberg on foot. Originating at Kandersteg in the north and continuing on to Goppenstein, this tunnel opened up picturesque Alpine valleys, such as the Lötschental, which to that point had remained cut off from the outside world. Today’s Lötschberg Base Tunnel openend in 2007 and is a 34.577 km (21.5 mile) long new railway tunnel on the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon railway cutting through the Alps of Switzerland some 400 m below the existing Lötschberg Tunnel. It is the longest land tunnel in the world, accommodating both passenger and freight trains, and running between Frutigen, Berne and Raron, Valais and is part of the NRLA (New Railway Link through the Alps).
The construction of the tunnel began in 1906 and suffered delays by several severe accidents. Since 1913, the Lötschberg Railway Tunnel has created a direct link between Be ...
rn and the Rhone Valley, its car-train providing the only direct route for the mountainous 9-mile stretch other than traversing the peaks of the Lötschberg on foot. Originating at Kandersteg in the north and continuing on to Goppenstein, this tunnel opened up picturesque Alpine valleys, such as the Lötschental, which to that point had remained cut off from the outside world. Today’s Lötschberg Base Tunnel openend in 2007 and is a 34.577 km (21.5 mile) long new railway tunnel on the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon railway cutting through the Alps of Switzerland some 400 m below the existing Lötschberg Tunnel. It is the longest land tunnel in the world, accommodating both passenger and freight trains, and running between Frutigen, Berne and Raron, Valais and is part of the NRLA (New Railway Link through the Alps).
