World's Longest Rail Tunnel in Switzerland to Remain Closed Until September 2024 Due to Extensive Derailment Damage

Repair costs estimated between $110 million to $140 million as 4.2 miles of rail track need to be entirely replaced after a cargo train derailment in a crucial Alpine thoroughfare; no injuries reported.

Switzerland's national rail operator, SBB, announced that the world's longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard tunnel, will not be fully reopened until September 2024, after suffering significant damage from a cargo train derailment in August 2023.
The damage sustained in the derailment incident was more extensive than initially estimated, leading to a delay in the date set for repairs to be completed.
Entire replacement of 4.2 miles or 7 kilometers of rail tracks in the tunnel is necessary due to the considerable damage, a task that is anticipated to take more time than initially projected.
The cost for repair work is expected to range between 100 million to 130 million Swiss francs, equivalent to around $110 million to $140 million.
Despite the damage and ongoing repairs, limited passenger and cargo train traffic continues to pass via the Gotthard tunnel, a key thoroughfare particularly for goods and cargo between Germany and Italy