Inauguration of the Gotthard Base Tunnel: we have a date with history2 reading minutes

A look at the news - Nicolas Jutzet

It's time to celebrate. After seventeen years of work involving 2,400 workers, the world's longest tunnel is about to be inaugurated. The 1^er June, Switzerland, and indeed Europe, will be celebrating this jewel of innovation. The fifty-seven-kilometre structure is further proof of Switzerland's cutting edge. Because yes, let's not be modest for once: what we've achieved is simply titanic, absolutely grand. To put it simply: ein Meisterwerk!

Behind this feat lies a long history, one that has made Switzerland, once so poor, rich again. The Gotthard of today is possible thanks to the work of the great actors of the past. And I believe that Switzerland should take this opportunity to heal an open wound. A little background: the first person to see the importance of a north-south rail link for Switzerland was Alfred Escher. In my opinion, we owe the success of our modern Switzerland to this visionary workaholic. As early as 1852, with his Railways Act (entrusting the construction and operation of the network to private companies), he enabled our country to catch up in this field. As a reminder, there was previously only one ridiculous railroad line linking Zurich and Baden!

He eventually convinced the rest of the country of the need to dig a tunnel under the Gotthard massif. At the same time, he set up Credit Suisse to raise the missing funds abroad. Unfortunately, the Herculean task of digging the Gotthard fell behind schedule, and Escher fell into disfavor and was eventually dismissed from the project. When the tunnel was inaugurated on May 25, 1882, his name was sacrilegiously omitted. Because of the many tensions involved, no one dared to say a word of thanks to the man who was at the heart of it all. Alfred never recovered, dying in December of the same year.

I dare to hope that Adolf Ogi and the other guests, as they congratulate themselves on June 1, will spare a thought for the man whose statue now stands proudly at Zurich Station. We owe it to our predecessors, among others, that we are able to astonish the world with our prowess. Let's not forget them!

Write to the author: nicolas.jutzet@leregardlibre.com