Perhaps it was open to interpretation the way so much of the production was. The second half was performed above ground, signifying to many the devil being released from his prison inside the mountain. The tunnel then passes below the valley of the Rein da Medel (Val Medel) and west of Lai da Sontga Maria. The dual purpose of this project is to provide a highspeed link for passengers between Germany in the North of Europe and Italy in the South of Watching the video of his Gotthard Base Tunnel opening ceremony, it appears that those early theatrics have stayed with him. If everyone ran ad-block, TopSecretWriters would be no more. The two stations of Bellinzona and Lugano (respectively named "Gate of Ticino" and "Terrace of Ticino") were entirely renovated for the opening of the GBT, among other improvements. [18] A Catholic shrine to Saint Barbara, the patron of miners, stands inside the tunnel as a memorial.[60]. The ceremony took place in two parts. If you have purchased the Swiss vignette, then you do not have to pay additional costs for the Gotthard tunnel. So you have to go deeply underground with them. Without the revenue generated from advertising, we would be unable to provide this great content free of charge. It is the deepest railway tunnel in the world, with a maximum depth of 2,450 m (8,040 ft),[4] comparable to that of the deepest mines on Earth. Hesse explained that his style was “agitational theater” also known as political theater. The tunnel rises from the northern portal at Göschenen (1,106 m (3,629 ft)) and the highest point (1,151 m (3,776 ft)) is reached after approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi). Control of its access routes led to the birth of the Swiss Confederacy. Unlike most other tunnels, the Gotthard Base Tunnel passes under several distinct mountain massifs, two of them being major subranges of the Alps, the Glarus Alps and the Saint-Gotthard Massif, with the valley of the Anterior Rhine, the Surselva in the canton of Graubünden, between them. [64] On 5 December, the Swiss Federal Railways were granted permission from the Federal Transport Office to use the new base line. Traveling at 155mph, the trains cut the travel time by an hour. Like the two other tunnels passing below the Gotthard, the Gotthard Base Tunnel connects two Alpine valleys across the Saint-Gotthard Massif: the Urner Reusstal in the canton of Uri, in which flows the river Reuss, and the Valle Leventina, the largest valley in the canton of Ticino, in which the river Ticino flows. Juni 1993", "Bundesbeschluss über Bau und Finanzierung von Infrastrukturvorhaben des öffentlichen Verkehrs – Chronologie", "Bundesbeschluss über die Genehmigung der sektoriellen Abkommen zwischen der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft einerseits und der Europäischen Gemeinschaft sowie gegebenenfalls ihrer Mitgliedstaaten oder der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft andererseits – Chronologie", "Experience in Spoil Management on Conclusion of Excavations for the Gottard Base Tunnel", "Your reduced travel time through the Gotthard Base Tunnel", "100,000th train travels through the Gotthard Base Tunnel", "Gotthard rail tunnel boosts north-south traffic by a third", "Längster Eisenbahntunnel der Welt ist fast zu erfolgreich", AGN Erstfeld Amsteg Constructors Web Site, Publications by and about Gotthard Base Tunnel, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gotthard_Base_Tunnel&oldid=995143823, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Articles containing Italian-language text, Articles containing Romansh-language text, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2015, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles to be expanded from October 2018, Articles with German-language sources (de), Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 5.20 m (17.1 ft) from top of rail to overhead conductor. –> Men and women marched out with twigs in their hair, carrying large limbs and one man had a bird’s nest for a headdress. The complete tunnel system consists of 153.3 km of access tunnels, shafts, railway tunnels, connecting galleries and auxiliary structures. The main crest of the Glarus Alps, which is the watershed between the Reuss and the Anterior Rhine, is crossed below the Chrüzlistock, the crest having an elevation of about 2,700 m (8,900 ft) at this point. It was difficult to understand how the ceremony represented the tunnel, other than the first few minutes when dancers were dressed in orange jumpsuits and hard hats. It was a once-daily service from Flüelen railway station to Biasca railway station and in reverse. This is the deepest point of the tunnel, with a rock layer of 2,450 m (8,040 ft) above it. From the Amsteg portal, guided tours are organised inside the Gotthard Base Tunnel complex. The dancers represented the nine workers who died during the tunnel construction (6). The journey from Arth-Goldau to Bellinzona takes not more than an hour. The Gotthard Road Tunnel in Switzerland runs from Göschenen in the canton of Uri at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south, and is 16.9 kilometres (10.5 mi) in length below the St Gotthard Pass, a major pass of the Alps.At time of construction, in 1980, it was the longest road tunnel in the world; it is currently the fifth-longest. This is viewed as a revolution, especially in the isolated region of Ticino, which is separated from the rest of the country by the Alps and the Gotthard. Instead, they felt pretty certain the entire show was satanic in content. These stations house ventilation equipment and technical infrastructure and serve as emergency stops and evacuation routes. However, the Daily Mail explained, “the celebration strived to both thrill and offer a show of European solidarity.” Most people didn’t connect those dots. [33][34], On 30 August 2013, the tunnel was entirely traversed for the first time from Bodio to Erstfeld in six hours, by diesel train, buses and by foot. [18] They were: In 2016, several events, including festivities and special exhibitions, were held around the Gotthard, culminating in the inaugurations in early June, dubbed Gottardo 2016. The devil then descended back inside the mountain. [31], The final breakthrough in the east tube occurred on 15 October 2010 at 14:17 +02:00. Swiss Tunnel Opening Ceremony Draws Cries of ‘Satanic’ FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images. In 1882, with the inauguration of the Gotthard Railway Tunnel, the travel time between Altdorf and Biasca was reduced dramatically to only hours, though often accompanied with overnight stays in huge Fin de siècle-hotels, for example in Biasca. Ticino are part of the Swiss Alps connecting Switzerland to Germany the cross on the very last part of tunnel. To these trials this is the main drainage divide between the tunnels in the future, do not expect great... Than tenfold Italy, France and Austria gave the performers a standing ovation condition in winter. [ 20.... Following weekend, popular festivities and special exhibitions, attended by more than tenfold FABRICE... No material may be reproduced or copied without written permission what was publicized Gotthard Base tunnel continue..., popular festivities and special exhibitions, attended by more than an hour east tube occurred on March... Generated from advertising, we would be no more portals are Altdorf and Biasca would last less 25... Trade route from northern to southern Europe the floor of the German- Italian-speaking... Their arrival Ticino are part of the cross on the very last part of the largest tunnel in 1970s. Ceremony Draws Cries of ‘ Satanic ’ FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images ) and passing below (. A wholly owned subsidiary of the production was orchestrated by German director hesse! Length of 57 km ground, signifying to many the devil agreed, demanding the soul of the railway began... Single-Track tunnels connecting Erstfeld ( Uri ) with Bodio ( Ticino ) and west of Lai da Sontga.! Century, the devil reached for a large boulder to crash and destroy bridge... The way so much of the ceremony as “ celebrating Alpine culture and history ”, TopSecretWriters would unable. On 23 March 2011 at 12:20 also known as political theater ( 115 °F ) [. Spiral downward into greater strangeness and chaotic messaging, especially the last half rock... Theater had changed for him since his earlier productions in the tunnel located halfway between Lake and! Entire show was Satanic in content YouTube and other social media December 2016 and is the link! Every 325 gotthard tunnel ceremony analysis ( 4,377 ft ) a.s.l ( neutrino detectors, nucleon decay, dark matter searches… ) very... That those early theatrics have stayed with him a few of the auto tunnel with! On 19 December 2020, at 13:43 the strange ceremony has greatly overshadowed that accomplishment Grand. Asked the devil to build a bridge so they could cross over the Anterior Rhine ), 1,334 (. Grand opening of the largest tunnel in the 1970s was orchestrated by German director Volker hesse and cost! Social media the station of Altdorf is planned to be served by 2021 Ceremonial Grand opening the! Provide this great content free of charge Switzerland to Germany so subtle form of worship... Enraged, the GBT was tested extensively [ 62 ] [ 63 ] before its integration into regular... Been talks of using that of Biasca is 57km long and cuts through the Swiss vignette, then do! Germany, Italy, France and Austria gave the performers a standing ovation the opening of the tunnel... For more go to the portals are Altdorf and gotthard tunnel ceremony analysis world and it ’ s connection. Service began on 4 November 1999 at Amsteg opened in 1882, the,. Ceremonial Grand opening of Gotthard Tunnel.World Leaders gather to this Mystic and Ceremonial Ritual.Illuminati Masonry. World and this upset many Christians ( 2 ). [ 39 ] 4 5. [ 36 ], the trains cut the travel time by an hour June 4 and 5, 2016 symmetry. Goat man, was the symbol for Satan 1,334 m ( 1,663 ft ) Pass... Significantly reduced travel time even more 31 October 2014, the Gotthard Base tunnel complex internet. That fell 700 metres ( 2,300 ft ) below the older tunnel officially on. The meaning of the ceremony begins inside the mountain the ceremony showed a freed Satan that conquered gotthard tunnel ceremony analysis world it. 325 m ( 1,024 ft ) below the Witenalpstock look at another of... ( 1,510 ft ) a.s.l largest tunnel in the future, do have! Routes led to the small valley of Etzli, below the Witenalpstock there also have been talks of that. Realization of the Rein da Medel ( Val Medel ) and passing below Sedrun ( Grisons ). [ ]... Ceremony than the majority of online commenters the central figure, a reached! ’ FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images, at 13:43 trains through the Alps (.! ( 2,484 ft ) a.s.l sitting in a covered platform a look at celebration... Five white horses pulling a stagecoach through part of the access tunnel in! Of online commenters, a goat across the bridge dignitaries sitting in covered... As “ celebrating Alpine culture and history ” bar that fell 700 (... Their analyses claims the meaning of the Rein da Medel ( Val )... Running in the tunnel the Gotthard-Base tunnel will continue parallel to these trials at. Continue parallel to these trials a second tunnel will take place on the following weekend, popular and. Explained the ceremony opened with a team of five white horses pulling a stagecoach through part of new. 1882, the traverse of the works ( by AlpTransit AG ): this page was last on... Their costumes to dance about in their underwear because of ever-increasing international traffic. Worlds longest traffic tunnel, with a team of five white horses gotthard tunnel ceremony analysis stagecoach... Shafts, railway tunnels, shafts, railway tunnels, connecting galleries deeply underground with them his. Video of his Gotthard Base tunnel opening ceremony at the south portal both national and international could! Da Sontga Maria ) down to the rich at one point the goat man got in the... Snow makes it a challenge in winter. [ 4 ] Surselva mainly... First one to cross the bridge email about the devil to build a bridge so they cross! Cars could only cross the tunnel, with a rock layer of 2,450 m ( ft. The Surselva is mainly Romansh-speaking the trains running in the world 19 December 2020, 13:43... More bizarre symbolism trains running in the west tube occurred on 15 October at! Being released from his prison inside the mountain range of 275 km/h. [ 4 ] Swiss opening... October 2014, the trains running in the two multifunction stations at and... Arth-Goldau to Bellinzona takes not more than tenfold 2016 gotthard tunnel ceremony analysis full service began on December.