World's longest and deepest railway tunnel opens in Switzerland

The world's longest railway tunnel is being officially opened in Switzerland.

Leaders from France, Germany and Italy were attending a ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the 35.4-mile (57km) tunnel through the Alps.

It has taken 17 years to build at a cost of 12.2bn Swiss francs (€11.02bn).

The thoroughfare aims to cut travel times, ease road traffic and take cargo away from pollution-spewing lorries trucking between Europe's north and south.

Once it opens for commercial service in December, the two-way tunnel will take up to 260 freight trains and 65 passenger trains per day.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel eclipses Japan's 33.4-mile (53.8km) Seikan Tunnel as the world's longest and burrows deeper - 1.4 miles (2.3km) - than any other rail tunnel.