[Idyllchat] New Tunnel Through Alps

[Richard Stewart]

Thanks Stefan, and Joan and Bob as well, for the "tunnel" clarification. 
Much appreciated.

Dick Stewart

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <st.gretener at bluewin.ch>
To: <joanherriges at live.com>; "Richard Stewart" <dj.stewart at comcast.net>; 
"Idyllchat" <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] New Tunnel Through Alps


> Dear Idyllers,
>
> I gladly accept the invitation that Joan has spoken out ;-)
>
> You are talking about the Loetschberg base railroad tunnel that connects 
> the regions Bernese Oberland and
> Valais/Wallis in Switzerland. As mentioned before, this railroad tunnel is 
> operational since last year. With its length
> of 34.6 kilometers (about 21.5 miles), the tunnel is the third longest 
> tunnel in the world. The north portal of the
> tunnel is in Frutigen, the south portal in Raron near Visp.
>
> All direct SBB trains (InterCity, EuroCity, Cisalpino trains) between Bern 
> and Brig run thru the Loetschberg base
> railroad tunnel, non-stop from Spiez to Visp (and vice-versa). If you 
> would like to go to Frutigen, Kandersteg or
> Goppenstein you will have to change on the so-called RegioExpress train in 
> Spiez or Brig. A ride from Spiez to Brig on
> the very scenic old railroad line over Frutigen, Kandersteg, Goppenstein 
> takes 1 hour 12 minutes. With a direct train
> from Spiez to Brig thru the Loetschberg base railroad tunnel, you need 
> just 35 minutes. But the 15 to 20 minutes you
> spend in the tunnel are quite noisy and not scenic at all.
>
> If you are interested in the Loetschberg base railroad tunnel, you will 
> find a lot of information on the following
> website (in English):
> http://www.blsalptransit.ch/en/frameset_e.htm
>
> Kind regards from Olten, Switzerland
> Stefan
>
>
>
>>Yes, it opened last year during our stay.  Saw the portals riding the 
>>rails to Zermatt.
>>Understand it cuts considerable time from Bern to Visp--at least 45 
>>minutes.  Perhaps
>>Stefan, our SBB expert can give more specific detail.  As always, the 
>>Swiss threw an
>>opening party that lasted all weekend, including free rides through the 
>>tunnel.  And,
>>Untours, always on top of things, offered tunnel ride reservations to 
>>interested Idyll
>>guests.  Cheers.  Joan.
>
>