Lötschberg Tunnel

Lötschberg Tunnel Train

Goppenstein to Kandersteg

Sunday 29th June 2014

The Lötschberg Tunnel is a 14.6 km long railway tunnel on the Lötschberg Line, which connects Spiez and Brig at the northern end of the Simplon Tunnel cutting through the Alps of Switzerland. Its ends are at the towns of Kandersteg in the Canton of Berne and Goppenstein in the Canton of Valais. Construction began in 1906 and suffered delays by several severe accidents. In February 1908, an avalanche destroyed a hotel the workers lived in, killing 13. In July of the same year, a section of the tunnel collapsed, killing 25. The section was beyond repair, so a new tunnel had to be blasted, bypassing the site of the disaster. Breakthrough was achieved in March 1911. Regular service through the Lötschberg Tunnel began in 1913. The tunnel is 14.6 km (9.1 mi) long single bore twin track.