What is special about the Gotthard Base Tunnel?
Was ist am Gotthard-Basis-Tunnel speziell?
Correct answer: C
- A It was the first tunnel in Europe.Er war der erste Tunnel in Europa.
- B It is the only railway tunnel in Europe.Er ist der einzige Eisenbahntunnel Europas.
- C It is the longest railway tunnel in the world.Er ist der längste Eisenbahntunnel der Welt.
- D It has the largest tunnel diameter in the world.Er hat den grössten Tunneldurchmesser der Welt.
Why
At 57 kilometres, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. It was opened in 2016.
Exam answer: «längster Eisenbahntunnel der Welt» (longest railway tunnel in the world). Today: still true (as of 2026). The Brenner Base Tunnel between Austria and Italy is planned to be longer but is still under construction (study brochure, canton of Zurich, 2024; FOT).
Common mistakes
- A: It was the first tunnel in Europe.
- There were many tunnels in Europe long before, for example the old Gotthard tunnel from 1882.
- D: It has the largest tunnel diameter in the world.
- The Gotthard Base Tunnel is especially long and deep, but not especially wide.
Topic
Switzerland is a railway country. It is said of its railway network that it is the densest in the world. That means: there are very many railway lines on a small area. Almost every village can be reached by train or bus. People in Switzerland travel more kilometres by train per year than in almost any other country.
Culture, economy and Switzerland in the world
Economy and transport
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 257 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.