Editing Gotthard Base Tunnel (section)

==History==
===Background===
<!-- If you want to add more details not about the Base Tunnel, please go to the Gotthard Pass or Gotthard Railway page-->
{{see also|Gotthard Pass|Gotthard Railway}}
[[File:Nordportal Gotthard-Basistunnel.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Aerial view of the [[Reuss (river)|Uri Reuss Valley]] and the {{convert|3073|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} [[Bristen]] peak from the north portal. The historic routes on the Gotthard (road and railway) follow the Reuss upwards, which flows west of the Bristen.]]
Since the 13th century, the {{convert|2106|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|abbr=on}} Gotthard Pass has been an important trade route from northern to southern Europe. Control of its access routes led to the birth of the [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Swiss Confederacy]]. The Gotthard Pass is located halfway between [[Lake Lucerne]] and [[Lake Maggiore]]. It is the shortest link between the navigable [[Rhine]] and the [[Po (river)|Po]]. Before modern transport, the traverse of the pass took days, and snow makes it a challenge in winter.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tellier |first=Luc-Normand |date=2009 |title=Urban World History: An Economic and Geographical Perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cXuCjDbxC1YC |location=Quebec City, Canada  |publisher=Presses de l'Université du Québec |page=314 |isbn=9782760522091}}</ref>

Quite late, compared to other current top-importance routes through the Alps (e.g. [[Simplon Pass|Simplon]], [[San Bernardino Pass|San Bernardino]], [[Brenner Pass|Brenner]], [[Mont Cenis]]), namely in 1830, the first Saint-Gotthard Pass road was established after centuries-long usage of a [[bridle path]]. From 1842 onwards, a daily course by the ''Gotthard Post'', a stagecoach drawn by five horses with ten seats, still took about 23 hours from [[Como]] to [[Flüelen]]. It would last until 1921.

{{multiple image| perrow = 2|total_width = 400
|header = Historic routes on the Gotthard
|align = left
|image1=Koller Gotthardpost 1873.jpg|alt1=|caption1='''Pass road'''<br />"The Gotthard Mail Coach" ([[Rudolf Koller]], 1873) on the [[Tremola San Gottardo|Tremola]]
|image2=SBB RABDe 500 Upper Meienreuss Bridge Wassen.jpg|alt2=|caption2='''Old vertex railway''' with SBB tilting intercity train at [[Wassen]]
|footer = 
}}

In 1882, with the inauguration of the [[Gotthard Railway Tunnel]], the travel time between [[Altdorf, Switzerland|Altdorf]] and [[Biasca]] was reduced dramatically to only hours, though often accompanied with overnight stays in large [[Fin de siècle]]-hotels, for example in Biasca. In those days, it was still an adventure and it was only affordable to the rich. Electrification of the railway line in 1922 significantly reduced travel time again. Refilling water boilers of steam locomotives was no longer necessary. There were also the technical advantages of electrical engines and future technical improvements.

From 1924, car transport on trains through the railway tunnel began. The road between [[Göschenen]] and [[Airolo]] over the summit of the pass, comporting notably the [[Schöllenen Gorge|Schöllenen ravine]] and the [[Tremola San Gottardo|Tremola]], had countless hairpin turns and serpentine curves, dropping {{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}} in altitude. It posed a huge challenge for automobiles of those days. From 1953 onwards, the pass road was sequentially improved and expanded at several sections along the Gotthard route, finally ending in 1977 with the opening of an expressway fully circumventing the Tremola. In winter, however, due to the snow, cars could only cross the Gotthard on the train.

Transit time was further dramatically reduced with the opening of the [[Gotthard Road Tunnel]] and the finalization of the northern part of [[A2 motorway (Switzerland)|A2 motorway]] through the ''Urner Reusstal'' (in close proximity to the railway), with many additional tunnels (then leading from Basel to the Gotthard Road Tunnel), in 1980. With the completion in 1986 of the A2 motorway in the [[Valle Leventina]], the main valley leading from Airolo down to [[Bellinzona]], and the surmounting of the [[Monte Ceneri]] between Bellinzona and [[Lugano]] in 1983, finally a continuous motorway was established from the northern border of Switzerland in [[Basel]] to the southern border in [[Chiasso]], or the shortest motorway route from North-German [[Hamburg]] as far as South-Italian [[Sicily]], bringing down the competitiveness of the railway line.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 December 2016 |publisher=[[Radio Télévision Suisse]] |title=Trois heures en 20 ans, le temps gagné pour traverser l'Europe par le Gothard |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/7708495-trois-heures-en-20-ans-le-temps-gagne-pour-traverser-l-europe-par-le-gothard.html |language=fr |access-date=5 July 2017 }}</ref> Passenger speed was also increased on the railway line with the use of tilting trains, notably the [[RABDe 500|ICN]], although maximum speed remaining far lower than on a modern straight high-speed line. Both modern motorway and historic railway rely on heavy rockfall and avalanche protection equipments and are exposed to harsh weather condition in winter.

After the opening of the auto tunnel, in 1980, traffic increased more than tenfold. The existing tunnel was at its capacity by 2013.<ref name="time">{{cite news |title=Switzerland Celebrates World's Longest Rail Tunnel |url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2026369,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022165153/http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2026369,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2010 |last=Cendrowicz |first=Leo |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=20 October 2010 |access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> A second tunnel will be built next to the first, following a national referendum.<ref name="GotthardRef">{{cite web |last=Jorio |first=Luigi |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/divisive-renovation-project_opposing-views-on-doubling-the-gotthard-tunnel/41873860 |title=Opposing views on doubling the Gotthard tunnel – SWI |website=Swissinfo.ch |date=6 January 2016 |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.thelocal.ch/20160229/voters-give-green-light-to-new-gotthard-road-tunnel |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160301102231/http://www.thelocal.ch/20160229/voters-give-green-light-to-new-gotthard-road-tunnel |archive-date = 1 March 2016 |title = Voters give green light to new Gotthard road tunnel |publisher = The Local}}</ref> Construction started in 2021 and is scheduled to finish in 2027.

[[File:NEAT GBT engl crop.png|thumb|Relative location and size of Gotthard Tunnel (1882) and Gotthard Base Tunnel (2016), both shown in yellow. Open-air rail shown in red.]]
As early as 1947, engineer [[Eduard Gruner]] imagined a two-story base tunnel from [[Amsteg]] to Biasca, both rail and road, with a stop at Sedrun, to provide a faster and flatter passage through the [[Swiss Alps]]. Similarly to Gruner's idea, the GBT cuts through the [[Saint-Gotthard Massif|Gotthard Massif]] some {{convert|600|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} below the older tunnel. On the historic track only the Gotthard Railway trains up to {{convert|1300|t|e6lbs|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name="sbb">{{cite web |url=http://www.lokifahrer.ch/Lokomotiven/Loks-SBB/Re_4-4-II/SBB-Re_4-4-II.htm |title=SBB-CFF-FFS Re 420 locomotive |publisher=Lokifahrer.ch |type=private fan site |language=de |date=23 August 2010 |access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> when using two locomotives or up to {{convert|1500|t|e6lbs|abbr=on}} with an additional [[bank engine]] at the end of the train are able to pass through the narrow mountain valleys and through [[Spiral (railway)|spiral tunnels]] climbing up to the portals of the old tunnel at a height of {{convert|1151|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. Since the GBT is in full service, standard freight trains of up to {{convert|3600|t|e6lbs|abbr=on}} are able to pass this natural barrier.

Because of ever-increasing international truck traffic, Swiss voters chose a shift in transportation policy in September 1992 by accepting the NRLA proposal. A second law, the ''Alpine Protection Act'' of February 1994,<ref name="price">{{cite journal |title= The Alpine Convention: A Model for Other Mountain Regions? |journal= Mountain Research and Development |volume= 20 |issue=2 |pages = 192–194 |publisher = Centre for Mountain Studies |last=Prince |first=Martin F. |location=[[Perth College UHI|Perth College]], UK |date=1 May 2000 |doi = 10.1659/0276-4741(2000)020[0192:TACAMF]2.0.CO;2 |doi-access = free }}</ref> requires a shift of as much tonnage as possible from truck transport to train transport.

The goal of both the laws is to transport trucks, trailers and freight containers through Switzerland, from [[Basel]] to [[Chiasso]], and beyond by rail to relieve the overused roads, and that of the [[Gotthard Road Tunnel|Gotthard]] in particular, by using [[intermodal freight transport]] and [[rolling highway]]s (where the entire truck is transported). The GBT substantially contributes to the requirements of both laws and enables a direct flat route from the ports of the [[North Sea]] (notably Rotterdam) to those of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] (notably Genoa), via the Rhine corridor.

Although the technical maximum speed is {{convert|250|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} through the GBT, the maximal authorized speed has been reduced to {{convert|230|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} for ecological and economical reasons, while the operating speed of passenger trains is restricted to {{convert|200|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} in order to accommodate the freight traffic, with the possibility to accelerate up to {{convert|230|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} in case of delay.<ref name=axe_NS_SaintGothard/><ref name=SBBoperation/><ref name=giruno/> At opening the GBT reduced travel times for trans-Alpine train journeys by about 40 minutes,<!--38 minutes in 2017--> and by one hour when the adjacent [[Zimmerberg Base Tunnel|Zimmerberg]] and [[Ceneri Base Tunnel]]s were completed. This is viewed as a revolution, especially in the isolated region of Ticino, which is separated from the rest of the country by the Alps and the Gotthard. The two stations of [[Bellinzona railway station|Bellinzona]] and [[Lugano railway station|Lugano]] (respectively named "Gate of Ticino" and "Terrace of Ticino") were entirely renovated for the opening of the GBT, among other improvements.{{CN|date=July 2023}}

As of 2016, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the [[List of longest tunnels|longest railway tunnel in the world]]. It is the third Swiss tunnel to bear this title, after the [[Gotthard Tunnel]] ({{convert|15|km|disp=or|abbr=on}}, 1882) and the [[Simplon Tunnel]] ({{convert|19.8|km|disp=or|abbr=on}}, 1905).<ref>Bernard Wuthrich, "Le Romand du Gothard", ''[[Le Temps]]'', Monday 1 June 2015, page 20.</ref> It is the third tunnel built under the Gotthard, after the Gotthard Tunnel and the Gotthard Road Tunnel.

===Construction===
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1.5em 1.5em; width:271px"
|+ 2004–2011 tunnel excavation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/status-of-the-work/status-of-the-work.html |title=Status of the work |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=1 November 2011 |access-date=11 November 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/status-of-the-work/raw-construction/gotthard-base-tunnel.html |title=Overview Gotthard Base Tunnel |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=1 January 2012 |access-date=5 February 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
!width=50 rowspan=2| Year
!width=50 rowspan=2| Month
!colspan=3| Total excavated
|-
! (kilometres)
! (miles)
! Of planned (%)
|-
| 2004 || July
| {{convert|52.34|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 34.1
|-
| 2005 || June
| {{convert|74.59|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 48.6
|-
| 2006 || June
| {{convert|94.10|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 61.3
|-
| 2007 || June
| {{convert|103.67|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 67.6
|-
|rowspan="5"| 2008 || March
| {{convert|108.02|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 70.4
|-
| April
| {{convert|109.00|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 71.0
|-
| July
| {{convert|113.20|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 73.8
|-
| August
| {{convert|115.20|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 75.1
|-
| October
| {{convert|118.40|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 77.2
|-
|rowspan="10"| 2009 || January
| {{convert|124.00|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 81.6
|-
| March
| {{convert|127.30|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 83.9
|-
| May
| {{convert|131.00|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 86.3
|-
| June
| {{convert|133.00|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 87.6
|-
| July
| {{convert|134.80|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 87.9
|-
| August
| {{convert|136.60|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 90.0
|-
| September
| {{convert|137.30|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 90.4
|-
| October
| {{convert|138.60|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 91.3
|-
| November
| {{convert|140.00|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 92.2
|-
| December
| {{convert|141.38|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 93.0
|-
|rowspan="12"| 2010 || January
| {{convert|141.82|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 93.4
|-
| February
| {{convert|142.48|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 93.8
|-
| March
| {{convert|143.80|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 94.7
|-
| April
| {{convert|144.80|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 95.4
|-
| May
| {{convert|145.40|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 95.8
|-
| June
| {{convert|146.10|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 96.2
|-
| July
| {{convert|146.60|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 96.6
|-
| August
| {{convert|147.33|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 97.0
|-
| September
| {{convert|147.98|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 97.5
|-
| October
| {{convert|149.10|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 98.2
|-
| November
| {{convert|149.90|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 98.7
|-
| December
| {{convert|150.40|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 99.0
|-
|rowspan="7"| 2011 || January
| {{convert|150.49|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 99.1
|-
| February
| {{convert|150.77|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 99.3
|-
| March
| {{convert|151.26|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 99.6
|-
| April
| {{convert|151.70|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 99.91
|-
| May
| {{convert|151.75|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 99.94
|-
| June
| {{convert|151.82|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
| align=right | 99.99
|-
| July
| {{convert|151.82|km|mi|2|disp=table}}
|100<ref name="driving">{{cite web |url=http://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/gotthard-basistunnel-der-vortrieb-ist-beendet-729.html?cHash=c5ea7c0f8d5607531287e6d859a4b425 |title=Gotthard Base Tunnel: Driving complete |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=16 November 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|}

AlpTransit Gotthard AG was responsible for construction. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the [[Swiss Federal Railways|Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)]].

To cut construction time in half, four access tunnels were built so that construction could start at four different sites simultaneously: Erstfeld, Amsteg, Sedrun, and Faido. A fifth&nbsp;at Bodio&nbsp;was added later. The two tunnels are joined approximately every {{convert|325|m|ft|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} by connecting galleries. Trains can move between the tunnels in the two multifunction stations at [[Sedrun]] and [[Faido]]. These stations house ventilation equipment and technical infrastructure and serve as emergency stops and evacuation routes.<ref name="malins"/>

Access to the Sedrun station site is by a level access tunnel {{convert|1|km|mi|sigfig=4|1|abbr=on}} long from the valley floor near Sedrun. At the end of the access tunnel, two vertical shafts lead {{convert|800|m|ft|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} down to the base tunnel level. A proposal to construct a functioning railway station, called ''[[Porta Alpina]]'' (from [[Romansh language|Romansh]], "Alpine Gate"), at this site was evaluated, but the project was put on hold in 2007 and definitively cancelled by the federal authorities in 2012 as uneconomical.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bundesrat bestätigt vorläufigen Verzicht auf die Porta Alpina |url=https://www.news.admin.ch/de/nsb?id=44585 |date=16 May 2012 |publisher = Swiss federal authorities |type = Press release |access-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>

The final breakthrough in the east tube occurred on 15 October 2010 at 14:17 +02:00.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/detail/article/final-breakthrough-of-the-longest-railway-tunnel-in-the-world/ |title=Final breakthrough of the longest railway tunnel in the world |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |date=15 October 2010 |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |access-date=5 June 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The final breakthrough in the west tube occurred on 23 March 2011 at 12:20.<ref name="bedding">{{cite news |title=Switzerland's Gotthard Base train tunnel is redefining Europe |last=Bedding |first=James |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/journeysbyrail/9880313/Switzerlands-Gotthard-Base-train-tunnel-is-redefining-Europe.html |date=19 February 2013 |work=[[The Telegraph (UK)|The Telegraph]] |access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/detail/article/gotthard-base-tunnel-driving-complete/ |title=Gotthard Base Tunnel: Driving complete |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=1 June 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 30 August 2013, the tunnel was entirely traversed for the first time from Bodio to Erstfeld in six hours, by diesel train, buses and by foot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corridor-rhine-alpine.eu/news-detail/switzerland-first-transit-in-the-gotthard-base-tunnel/cmd/clear.html |title=Switzerland: First transit in the Gotthard Base Tunnel |website=corridor-rhine-alpine.eu |access-date=7 December 2016 }}</ref>

On 16 December 2013, the operational test phase started on a {{convert|13|km|mi|adj=on}} stretch in the southern section of the west tube between Faido and Bodio. Its purpose was to test the infrastructure and any ancillary systems.<ref name="globalrailnews 2">{{cite news |title=Test trains running on Gotthard Base Tunnel |url=http://www.globalrailnews.com/2013/12/17/test-trains-running-on-gotthard-base-tunnel/ |work=Global Rail News |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=21 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203022817/http://www.globalrailnews.com/2013/12/17/test-trains-running-on-gotthard-base-tunnel/ |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 31 October 2014, the railway track installation was completed. A gold [[Sleeper (tie)|sleeper]] on the very last part of the track was installed during the event to mark this milestone of progress.<ref name=History>{{cite web |url=http://www.alpiq.com/news-stories/stories/stories.jsp?story=tcm:95-118469&tag=Integrated+project+management&taxid=8049&schema=52639 |title=The construction of the century takes shape |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |access-date=20 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601004609/http://www.alpiq.com/news-stories/stories/stories.jsp?story=tcm:95-118469&tag=Integrated+project+management&taxid=8049&schema=52639 |archive-date=1 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/31/celebrations-as-last-piece-of-track-is-laid-in-record-breaking-gotthard-rail-/ |title=Celebrations as last piece of track is laid in record-breaking Gotthard rail tunnel &#124; euronews, world news |website=Euronews.com |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=25 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064333/http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/31/celebrations-as-last-piece-of-track-is-laid-in-record-breaking-gotthard-rail-/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 1 October 2015, following permission by the Federal Office of Transport, the first tests on the entire length of the GBT were performed, with steadily increasing speed. On 8 November, a train reached the top speed of {{cvt|275|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luzernerzeitung.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/Mit-275-Sachen-durch-den-Gotthard-Basistunnel;art66368,629964 |title=Mit 275 Sachen durch den Gotthard-Basistunnel |publisher=[[Neue Luzerner Zeitung]] |date=19 November 2015 |website=[[Luzerner Zeitung]] |access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Nrla scheme.png|thumb|600px|center|A diagram showing the mountains above the Gotthard Base Tunnel, and the locations and directions the tunnel was excavated from.]]

====Allocation of work====
[[File:Gotthard Basistunnel Portal Nord 2009-06-14.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Erstfeld area (north portal) in 2009]]
The contracts were awarded in sections:
* [[Erstfeld]] (the {{convert|7.7|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} section from Erstfeld to [[Amsteg]]), with two [[tunnel boring machine]]s (TBM) boring the two tubes. The break-through of the east tube between Erstfeld and Amsteg took place on 15 June 2009. The portal area was [[Cut-and-cover|surface-mined]].
* Amsteg (the {{convert|11.3|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} section from Amsteg to north of [[Sedrun]]), ARGE AGN ([[Strabag]] and Züblin Murer) received the contract for work in this sector.<ref name="agn">{{cite web |url= http://www.agn-amsteg.ch/baulos-amsteg/projektbeschrieb.html |title= Projektbeschrieb |publisher= AGN Strabag |date= 24 September 2010 |access-date= 19 October 2010 |language= de |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141008175608/http://www.agn-amsteg.ch/baulos-amsteg/projektbeschrieb.html |archive-date= 8 October 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> On 9 December 2009, the Amsteg section was officially delivered to the owner for fitting-out,<ref name="neat.ch">{{cite web |url=http://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/tunnelroehren-des-abschnitts-amsteg-im-rohbau-uebergeben-283.html?cHash=08041d305a4bf933d5913043b9c1cee0 |title=Structurally complete tunnels of the Amsteg section handed over |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=10 December 2009 |access-date=12 November 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> with civil engineering, construction, concrete and lining work completed in early 2010.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=http://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/gotthard-vor-hauptdurchschlag-hauptvortrieb-am-ceneri-288.html?cHash=5bf551d1688835a7142c5aa6f1e8e37c |title=Gotthard approaches final breakthrough, Ceneri starts main drive |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=31 March 2010 |access-date=12 November 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* Sedrun (the {{convert|8.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} East tube and {{convert|8.7|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} West tube in the section immediately north and south of Sedrun), along with work performed by Transco ([[Bilfinger SE]], [[Implenia]], [[Frutiger (company)|Frutiger]] and [[Impresa Pizzarotti]]).<ref name="transco">{{cite web|url=http://www.transco-sedrun.ch/1_DEU_HTML.htm |title=Transco Sedrun |publisher=Transco |language=de |access-date=15 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529224525/http://www.transco-sedrun.ch/1_DEU_HTML.htm |archive-date=29 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="transconce">{{cite magazine | url = http://www.nce.co.uk/features/geotechnical/gotthard-a-titanic-tunnel/5217000.article | title = Gotthard: A titanic tunnel | magazine = New Civil Engineer | publisher = EMAP Publishing Limited | date = 29 April 2010 | first = Martina | last = Booth | access-date = 15 July 2015}}</ref> The final breakthrough in the west tube occurred in March 2011.<ref name="serunfinal">{{cite web |url=http://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/hauptdurchschlag-im-laengsten-eisenbahntunnel-der-welt-303.html?cHash=b99fdea861735d62090812c2c22a7185 |title=Final breakthrough of the longest railway tunnel in the world |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=15 October 2011 |access-date=12 November 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The northbound tubes from Amsteg to the Sedrun multifunction station (north) were handed over to the railway systems contractor Transtec Gotthard on 15 September 2011, the date specified in the construction schedule.<ref name="TranstecGotthard">{{cite web |url=http://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/der-einbau-der-bahntechnik-im-norden-hat-begonnen-736.html?cHash=f6c5d662a753c9bf3ad0c0be1f7ea816 |title=Installation of the railway systems in the north has begun |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |date=2 September 2011 |access-date=12 November 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Faido]] ({{convert|13.4|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} East tube and {{convert|13.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} West tube in the section from south of Sedrun to Faido), with Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, [[Hochtief]] and [[Implenia]] and [[Impregilo]]).<ref name="TAT">{{cite web|url=http://www.tat-ti.ch/ |title=St. Barbara Celebration 2012 |publisher=Consorzio TAT |language=de |access-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913020852/http://www.tat-ti.ch/ |archive-date=13 September 2012}}</ref>
* [[Bodio]] ({{convert|15.9|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} East tube and {{convert|15.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} West tube in the section from Faido to Bodio), with work performed by Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, Hochtief, Implenia and Impregilo).<ref name="TAT" /> Civil engineering construction, concrete and lining works were completed in early 2010.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

====Deaths during construction====
Nine workers died during construction; one in the Amsteg section, two in the Sedrun section, and three each in the southernmost Faido and Bodio sections.<ref name=Memorial>{{cite news |url=https://www.alptransit-portal.ch/en/media/press-releases/detail/article/memorial-ceremony-for-deceased-tunnel-workers/ |publisher=AlpTransit Gotthard AG |location=Lucerne, Switzerland |title=Memorial ceremony for deceased tunnel workers |date=31 May 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
{|class=wikitable
! Date !! Nationality !! Details <!-- !! Location -->
|-
| 8 June 2000 || German || Hit by a boring bar that fell {{convert|700|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Andreas Reichhardt, † 8. Juni 2000 |publisher=[[Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|SRF]] |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/andreas-reichhardt-8-juni-2000 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
| 12 March 2002 || South African || Buried by excavation material.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Jacques Du Plooy, † 12. März 2002 |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/jacques-du-plooy-12-maerz-2002 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
| 3 April 2003 || German || Hit by a rock.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Heiko Bujack, † 3. April 2003 |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/heiko-bujack-3-april-2003 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
| 11 September 2003 || Austrian || Crushed by a toppling cable drum.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Albert Ginzinger, † 11. September 2003 |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/albert-ginzinger-11-september-2003 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Matthias Chapman |title=Die Toten vom Gotthard |newspaper=[[Tages-Anzeiger]] |url=http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/Die-Toten-vom-Gotthard/story/14276219 |date=12 October 2010 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
| 21 January 2005 || Italian (1)<br />Italian (1) || Hit in a mine train collision.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Salvatore di Benedetto, † 21. Januar 2005 |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/salvatore-di-benedetto-21-januar-2005 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Andrea Astorino, † 21. January 2005  |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/andrea-astorino-21-januar-2005 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
| 23 November 2006 || German || Crushed by a mine train.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Thorsten Elsemann, † 23. November 2006 |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/thorsten-elsemann-23-november-2006 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
| 24 June 2010 || German || Catapulted from an inspection train.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Hans Gammel, † 24. Juni 2010 |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/hans-gammel-24-juni-2010 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|-
| 16 July 2012 || Italian || Fell from a scaffold.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gieri Venzin |title=Giuseppe Liuzzo, † 16. Juni 2012  |publisher=SRF |url=http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/dok/guiseppe-liuzzo-16-juni-2012 |date=30 May 2016 |access-date=1 June 2016 |language=de}}</ref>
|}

===Inauguration and commissioning===
[[File:Gotthard 2016.jpg|thumb|Inauguration days, where the public was allowed to experience high-speed travel below the Alps for the first time, and to move quickly between the exhibitions held in Erstfeld and Bodio.]]
In 2016, several events, including festivities and special exhibitions, were held around the Gotthard, culminating in the inaugurations in early June, dubbed ''Gottardo 2016''. Public institutions joined the celebrations: [[Swiss Post]] issued a special [[Postage stamp|stamp]] commemorating the Gotthard Base Tunnel,<ref>{{cite web |lang = fr |url = https://www.post.ch/fr/notre-profil/entreprise/medias/communiques-de-presse/2016/timbre-poste-special-avec-de-la-pierre-du-gothard |title = Timbre-poste spécial avec de la pierre du Gothard |type = press release |publisher = [[Swiss Post]] |date = 11 May 2016 |access-date = 7 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |lang = fr |first = Sylvain |last = Besson |url = https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/2016/05/30/gothard-ame-pierre-suisse |title = Gothard, l'âme de pierre de la Suisse |publisher = [[Le temps]] |date = 30 May 2016 |access-date = 7 September 2016 |archive-date = 12 December 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161212122351/https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/2016/05/30/gothard-ame-pierre-suisse |url-status = dead }}</ref> and [[Swissmint]] issued gold and silver coins dedicated to the opening.

On 31 May 2016, a day before the inauguration, the nine people who died during construction were commemorated in a ceremony at the north portal in [[Erstfeld]] that was led by a Catholic [[vicar general]], a vicar of the [[Evangelical-Reformed Church of Uri]], a Jewish rabbi, and a Muslim imam. A bronze memorial plaque with their names — four coming from Germany, three from Italy, and one from each of South Africa and Austria – was unveiled by AlpTransit Gotthard AG CEO Renzo Simoni.<ref name=Memorial/> A Catholic shrine to [[Saint Barbara]], the patron of miners, stands inside the tunnel as a memorial.<ref name=Ceremony/>

[[File:SBB - Gotthard Base Tunnel (30346410681).jpg|thumb|left|Sedrun multifunction station viewed from the control cab of a Gottardino train.]]
The tunnel was officially inaugurated on 1 June 2016.<ref name=Ceremony>{{cite news |title=World's Longest Rail Tunnel Opens in Switzerland |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/as-it-happens_switzerland-celebrates-the-gotthard-tunnel/42194112 |date=1 June 2016 |work=[[Swissinfo]] |location=Bern, Switzerland |access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> At the northern entrance in Erstfeld, President of the Confederation [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]] spoke of a "giant step for Switzerland but equally for our neighbours and the rest of the continent", while a live relay carried a speech given by Transport Minister [[Doris Leuthard]] at the southern entrance in [[Bodio]]. The first journey carried hundreds of Swiss citizens who had won tickets in a draw, while the assembled guests in Erstfeld, including the Federal Council in corpore, heads of state and government from neighbouring countries and transport ministers from European countries, attended the opening show ''Sacre del Gottardo'' by [[Volker Hesse]] featuring 600 dancers, acrobats, singers and musicians celebrating Alpine culture and [[Teufelsbrücke|myths around the Gotthard]].<ref name=Ceremony/> On the following weekend, popular festivities and special exhibitions, attended by more than 100,000 visitors, were held.

From 2 August to 27 November 2016, the [[Swiss Federal Railways]] ran a special train service through the tunnel called "Gottardino" which was open to the public. It was a once-daily service from [[Flüelen railway station]] to [[Biasca railway station]] and in reverse. The trains made a stop inside the tunnel, to allow passengers to visit an exhibition inside the underground multifunction station in [[Sedrun]] which would normally be used in emergency only.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gottardino special train |url=http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/holidays--short-breaks-in-switzerland/regionen/gotthard/gottardino-special-train.html |publisher=Swiss Federal Railways |access-date=6 November 2016 |archive-date=6 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106130606/http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/holidays--short-breaks-in-switzerland/regionen/gotthard/gottardino-special-train.html}}</ref>

===Regular services===
{{Listen
| filename = Gotthard Base Tunnel.ogg
| title    = Announcement before entering the GBT
| plain    = no
| style    = float:right
}}
During 2016, the GBT was tested extensively<ref name="Prepares"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Longest Rail Tunnel Clears Major Safety Hurdle |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/gotthard-base-tunnel-_longest-rail-tunnel-clears-major-safety-hurdle-/42591598 |date=15 November 2016 |website=[[Swissinfo]] |access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> before its integration into the regular schedule on 11 December.<ref>{{cite web |title=First Full Day of Service for Gotthard Rail Tunnel |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/hurtling-into-history_first-full-day-of-service-for-gotthard-rail-tunnel/42753636 |date=11 December 2016 |website=[[Swissinfo]] |access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> On 5 December, the [[Swiss Federal Railways]] were granted permission from the Federal Transport Office to use the new base line. While the base tunnel is used for InterCity trains ([[SBB-CFF-FFS RABDe 500|ICN]]) and EuroCity trains ([[EuroCity|EC]]), the vertex line remains in use for regional trains.<ref name="Prepares">{{cite web |url=http://www.thelocal.ch/20161206/worlds-longest-tunnel-prepares-for-first-paying-passengers |title=World's longest tunnel prepares for first scheduled services |publisher=[[The Local]] |date=6 December 2016 |website=thelocal.ch |access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref> Since 2019, the Gotthard axis is served by the [[Stadler EC250]] (Giruno) high-speed train and future flagship of the [[Swiss Federal Railways|SBB]] fleet.

From the Amsteg portal, guided tours are organised inside the Gotthard Base Tunnel complex. A window allows visitors to watch the trains running in the tunnel.

===2023 derailment and closure===
On 10 August 2023, a freight train derailed while traveling through the tunnel, causing extensive damage to the tunnel infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 August 2023 |title=Un train de marchandises déraille dans le tunnel de base du Gothard - Le Temps |language=fr |url=https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/un-train-de-marchandises-deraille-dans-le-tunnel-de-base-du-gothard |access-date=17 August 2023 |issn=1423-3967}}</ref> The incident occurred near the multi-functional station of Faido, in the canton of Ticino. No one was injured, and no hazardous materials were released.
The tunnel was closed to both passenger and freight traffic for repairs. It returned to normal service on 2 September 2024.