Public event
On 4 and 5 June, join us in celebrating the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Buy a ticket for the journey through the tunnel now.
Big station festivals to mark the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Buy a ticket for the journey through the tunnel now.
On 4 and 5 June, we will be celebrating the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel – the world’s longest railway tunnel measuring 57 kilometres – at four different festival sites around the tunnel entrances. The celebrations will be held at Erstfeld and Rynächt in the north and Pollegio and Biasca in the south. Admission to the festival sites is free, but you will need a ticket for the journeys through the tunnel on the Gottardo shuttle trains. Be a part of this historic event and secure tickets for the Gottardo shuttle trains at www.sbb.ch/ticketshop or from the usual SBB sales points.
To make your journey part of the celebration too, we recommend travelling to the festival sites by public transport. SBB will be providing a large number of special event trains. You can find all the connections at www.sbb.ch. Arrive early in the morning to allow enough time to visit the festival sites and take a round trip on the Gottardo shuttle train. Large numbers of visitors are expected, so you may have to wait.
Buying tickets for the round trips.
The special ticket, which includes the Gottardo shuttle train, is available as a round trip ticket and is valid from your home town. Before buying your tickets, you need to choose one of the routes. If you want to visit the festival sites in the south first and then travel north on the Gottardo shuttle train, choose the ticket option “Public transport ticket including south–north Gottardo shuttle train”, but if you want to start your round trip in the north and travel south on the Gottardo shuttle train, choose the option “Public transport ticket north–south”. It is only possible to travel through the Gotthard Base Tunnel in one direction; you must continue your journey via the Gotthard mountain route. Tickets are valid for one day.
Travel tips:
Option 1 south–north: Travel south from your home via the Gotthard mountain route, visit the festival sites in Biasca and Pollegio and continue your round trip on the Gottardo shuttle train through the new Gotthard Base Tunnel to Rynächt and Erstfeld.
Option 2 north–south: First visit the festival sites in Erstfeld and Rynächt, then travel south on the Gottardo shuttle train to Pollegio. You can return to the north of the tunnel from Biasca on the Gotthard mountain route. Shuttle buses will be running between the Rynächt and Erstfeld festival sites and between the Pollegio and Biasca sites. Use of the buses is included in your round trip ticket.
Programme for 4 and 5 June.
From 9 a.m. on both days, you are invited to a public celebration at the two tunnel entrances with countless attractions and all manner of cultural and culinary delights.
At the various stands, you will learn a whole range of interesting facts about the construction, maintenance and operation of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. A rolling stock exhibition will showcase the trains and locomotives of the past, present and future. The festivities will end at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday.
A large-scale artistic production and musical and theatrical performances from regional artists and groups will create a party atmosphere at the four festival sites in Rynächt, Erstfeld, Pollegio and Biasca.
- Activity planning
- Experience the mobility of the future. For example, why not take a ride in the train simulator for the “Giruno” high-speed shuttle from Stadler Rail (to be put into operation in 2019) in Erstfeld and Biasca? You can also pay a visit to our research partners, who will be demonstrating innovations which will change the mobility of the future at all the festival sites, such as drones, electric vehicles, self-driving cars and world-record acceleration that you can experience up-close.
- Gottardo 2016 partners will surprise you with interactive and fascinating stands about history, technology, innovation, research and their commitment to Switzerland.
- Let yourself be blown away by the most beautiful parts of the Gotthard cantons of Uri and Ticino in Rynächt and Erstfeld in the north and Pollegio and Biasca in the south.
- The children’s eyes will be shining with excitement when they see the kids’ zone, featuring an adventure sand pit, a variety of bouncy castles and a wide range of fun games to play.
Here you can find the detailed programme (PDF) with all the information about the festival and accompanying attractions, the Gottardo shuttles and how to get there and back. A printed programme is also available at all SBB sales points.
“Gottardo 2016” competition
Big station festivals to mark the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Join us in celebrating the opening of the world’s longest railway tunnel closer to home at one of our station festivals in Aarau, Biel/Bienne, Bern, Geneva, Winterthur and Zurich.