Watch: World's longest rail tunnel in Switzerland

The Gotthard Basel Tunnel will save the train journey from Zurich to Milan in northern Italy down to two hours and 40 minutes.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: It took over 12 billion Swiss francs (USD 12 billion, 11 billion euros) and some 2,400 workers to construct 57-kilometre (35-mile) rail tunnel in Switzerland.

More than 28 million tonnes of rock had to be excavated from the mountain near the Gotthard pass.

The Gotthard Basel Tunnel runs from Erstfeld in the central Swiss canton of Uri, to Bodio in southern Ticino canton, and will save the train journey from Zurich to Milan in northern Italy down to two hours and 40 minutes, roughly an hour less than it currently takes.

The new route also aims to make rail freight more efficient, including by supporting heavier cargo, which should reduce the number of diesel-guzzling lorries on the roads, in turn improving traffic and curbing pollution.

Check out the video of World's longest rail tunnel in Switzerland. The video has been posted by Wall Street Journal.