VOA慢速英语--瑞士开通了世界最长最深铁路隧道

（单词翻译）

AS IT IS 2016-06-02 Switzerland Opens World’s Longest, Deepest Rail Tunnel¹ 瑞士开通了世界最长最深铁路隧道

Switzerland has opened the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel, 17 years after starting work on the project.

The Gotthard Railway Tunnel is 57 kilometers long. Trains passing through it will be about 2.3 kilometers underground at the deepest point.

The tunnel cost $12 billion to build under the Alps² of central Switzerland.

The tunnel will reduce the time it takes trains to travel between northern and southern Europe. It is also expected to lower³ the number of vehicles⁴ on roads, and move cargo⁵ between north and south.

Many large trucks now carry goods through Europe. The trucks pollute the air.

The two-way tunnel opens for commercial⁶ service in December. When that happens, up to 260 freight⁷ trains and 65 passenger trains will be able to pass through it every day.

German Chancellor⁸ Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime⁹ Minister Matteo Renzi were at the opening ceremony on Wednesday. There were also musical bands and dancers. To celebrate the event, a special song was even written for the tunnel.

The new tunnel will have an effect on Switzerland and the rest of Europe for years to come.

Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. But some EU member countries have helped pay for, design and build the tunnel. The tunnel is expected to help the EU railway network -- especially traffic between Germany and Italy.

The tunnel stretches from the German-speaking town of Erstfeld in the north to the Italian-speaking town of Bodio in the south.

Words in This Story

tunnel – n. a passage that goes under the ground, through a hill, etc.

cargo – n. something that is carried from one place to another by boat, airplane, etc.

commercial – adj. related¹⁰ to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services; concerned with earning money

freight – adj. goods that are carried by ships, trains, trucks or airplanes