Swiss open world's longest overland tunnel

The world’s longest overland tunnel for trains linking Europe’s North and South was opened in Switzerland today after eight years of construction.

Hundreds of officials and citizens gathered at the northern entrance of the 21-mile Loetschberg tunnel as the first train burst through the banner declaring “Loetschberg – connecting Europe” – accompanied by fireworks.

The tunnel will trim the time trains need to cross between Germany and Italy to under two hours from approximately three-and-a-half hours now.

It will get skiers to Swiss resorts more quickly. The trip from Bern, at the northern end of the tunnel, to Visp, near ski regions like Switzerland’s Zermatt and Italy’s Courmayeur on the southern side of the tunnel, will be cut in half - to 55 minutes from 110.