The New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA)
The NRLA, commonly known as AlpTransit, is a monumental achievement of Switzerland. This railway project has brought, and continues to bring, northern and southern Switzerland and Europe closer together.
Ceneri, here we come!
The opening of the Ceneri base tunnel in 2020 has made travelling across Bellinzona, Locarno, Lugano and Mendrisio easier. And the rest of Switzerland is now even closer.
What's changed?
The Ceneri base tunnel leads to a time saving of about 15 minutes compared to the mountain line that climbs to Mount Ceneri.
- Locarno–Lugano Approx. 30 minutes instead of 50 for the Locarno-Lugano route
- Bellinzona–Lugano Approx. 15 minutes instead of 30 for the Bellinzona-Lugano route
- Zurigo–Lugano Zurich-Lugano in less than two hours
More frequent services and better connections: thanks to the Ceneri base tunnel, the number of trains travelling through the Gotthard base tunnel has also increased, rising from 50 to 60 a day.
What are you waiting for? Check the timetable and catch your train!
A long journey
With 15.4 km, the Ceneri base tunnel is certainly less imposing than the Gotthard base tunnel, but the work has been equally long and intense. Those who have travelled through this tunnel since December 2020, whether for work, leisure or simply to explore Ticino, may not know the key milestones that led to the construction of this major railway project. Let's discover them together.
STAGES OF THE PROJECT
The tunnel of the records
Total length of tunnels
152 km
Maximum depth
2300 m
Excavated materials
28.2 m tons
Real cost
CHF 12 bn
After nearly twenty years of hard work, the world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel is finally ready: the Gotthard Base Tunnel has been officially opened on June 1, 2016 (scheduled trains are only running from the December 11, 2016). Trains are now able to reach peak speeds of up to 250 km/h along a 60 kilometer stretch of track right through the heart of the Alps.
Two single track tunnels, both 57 kilometers long, running between Bodio (Ticino) and Erstfeld (Uri) are at the heart of the New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA): the Swiss masterpiece of the century. This ingenious shortcut established a direct route that allows traffic to cross the Alps at very high speed, with minimal gradients and gentle curves.
And it's not over here! Since 2020, the Monte Ceneri base tunnel reduces further Ticino's size. It takes only 30 minutes to travel from Locarno to Lugano, while a quarter of an hour for the Bellinzona-Lugano journey.
Train, bus, ski lifts, cycle paths and navigation: there's something for everyone.
Let's find out together what mobility in Ticino has to offer.
Let yourself be inspired
Come and enjoy this unique experience. An experience to enjoy now! Ticino is ready to warmly welcome you.