St. Gotthard Tunnel Inaugurated

The 15-kilometer St. Gotthard Tunnel through the Swiss Alps was formally opened on June 8, 1887, after a decade of construction. This international project overcame immense geological challenges including rock bursts and water inflows, employing thousands of workers. It connected the Swiss Federal Railways with Italian and German networks, enabling efficient north-south freight and passenger services. The tunnel symbolized engineering prowess of the era and accelerated European economic integration. Its success paved the way for later Alpine base tunnels and remains vital for trans-Alpine rail traffic today.