Following months of intensive restoration work and testing within the Gotthard Base Tunnel, trains resumed operations on August 19, 2024, in the west tube of the tunnel. This milestone comes after over a year of disruption caused by the derailment of a freight train, which resulted in the tunnel's closure. The start of this trial phase marks a significant step towards the tunnel's full reopening, scheduled for September 2, 2024.
After successfully completing preliminary tests, the Swiss Federal Office of Transport granted authorization for the first commercial train to pass through. This inaugural journey was made by an InterCity train departing from Chiasso at 5:30 AM, bound for Basel, officially reopening the tunnel. Shortly after, a freight train operated by SBB Cargo International followed the same route, traveling from Ludwigshafen, Germany, to Gallarate, Italy.
During this trial period, besides the first passenger train, the west tube will primarily be used by trains heading south. This decision was made to optimize cleaning processes and ensure everything is in place for the full operational return. Starting from September 2, all InterCity, EuroCity, and freight trains connecting German-speaking Switzerland with Ticino will once again traverse the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
The derailment occurred on August 10, 2023, causing extensive damage to a seven-kilometer stretch of the tunnel. While there were no injuries, the tunnel was completely closed to traffic. On August 23, train operations resumed in the east tube, but only for freight trains. Currently, the tunnel handles 90 trains per day, with an additional 20 rerouted to the old line. Some freight trains have been diverted via the Lötschberg–Simplon axis and the Brenner route. Since March 2, 2024, a limited number of passenger trains have been allowed to operate through the tunnel, but only on weekends.
