Ceneri Base Tunnel

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Ceneri Base Tunnel

The Ceneri Base Tunnel is a Swiss railway tunnel in Ticino, running under Monte Ceneri from Camorino near Bellinzona to Vezia near Lugano. It’s made of two parallel single‑track tunnels, each about 15 kilometers long, forming a flat, fast route that bypasses the old high‑slope Monte Ceneri track.

Purpose and importance
The tunnel is part of the New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA) project. It speeds up north–south travel by giving trains a flatter, more direct path between Switzerland and northern Italy. It helps connect Locarno, Lugano, Bellinzona, and beyond, and serves as a southern feeder to the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

Construction and design
- The project began in 2006. An exploration tunnel at Sigirino (1999–2003) helped study the rock.
- Most of the tunnels were bored with traditional methods; a small part used a tunnel boring machine.
- There are two tubes about 40 meters apart, connected by cross-passages every 325 meters.
- Breakthroughs occurred in early 2016. The tunnels were structurally completed in early 2017. The last tracks were laid in 2018.
- The tunnel opened for passenger service on September 4, 2020, and for freight in December 2020.
- The project cost about CHF 2.5 billion.

Operations and speed
- The CBT uses ETCS Level 2 signaling. Trains can travel up to 250 km/h, but practical operating speeds are around 200 km/h for regular passenger service and up to 230 km/h if needed; freight trains typically run at 100 km/h or more when possible.
- An operations center at Sigirino manages ventilation, safety, and logistics. There are dedicated rescue trains equipped for emergencies.

Impact
- Travel times between Locarno and Lugano dropped significantly (for example, a TILO service now takes about 22 minutes instead of 50).
- The tunnel shortens the main north–south route through the Alps and enhances connections to Milan, working alongside the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
- It also supports future regional connections in the Magadino Flat area near Camorino.