Opening of the Gotthard Tunnel

The 15-kilometer Gotthard Tunnel opened on August 19, 1883, after a decade of construction under chief engineer Louis Favre. It allowed the Swiss Federal Railways to operate trains through the Alps, connecting Lucerne to Chiasso and facilitating trade between Germany and Italy. Overcoming massive water inflows and rockfalls, workers used early dynamite and compressed air drills. The tunnel reduced travel time from days to hours and boosted tourism and freight movement. Its success inspired later alpine projects like the Lötschberg and Simplon tunnels, cementing Switzerland's role as a rail crossroads.