First passenger trains run through new Swiss tunnel

ZURICH, June 16 (Reuters) The first passenger trains ran through a new tunnel under the Alps today as Switzerland took a major step towards completing an engineering project to improve transport links through the mountains.

Special trains will run through the 35-km tunnel, which links the capital Berne with the south of the country and northern Italy, all day to mark the opening.

The new Loetschberg tunnel runs at a greater depth than a previous tunnel, meaning trains can travel faster. Scheduled trains will start to run through the new tunnel from December.

''After eight years of construction work, the Loetschberg basis tunnel project has been completed on time,'' BLS AlpTransit AG, which is overseeing the construction, said in a statement.

A new link under the Gotthard pass between Zurich and Milan, due to be completed in 2016, will be the world's longest rail tunnel at 57 km.

Reuters HK VV1520