Vereina Tunnel, Railway tunnel in Grisons, Switzerland
The Vereina Tunnel is a railway tunnel that runs nearly 19 kilometers through the Rhaetian Alps, connecting the Prättigau with the Unterengadin region. The route travels entirely underground and overcomes significant elevation changes between the valleys.
The idea for the tunnel emerged in 1975, and construction began in 1991 to create a modern connection through the Alps. The project finished ahead of schedule, and operations started in 1999.
The tunnel connects communities that were once cut off from each other in winter, and today enables year-round contact between people from different valleys. This connection has changed daily life and makes it easier for people to meet and trade across the mountain regions.
Car drivers can travel with their vehicles inside special trains without getting out, taking about 18 minutes to cross the mountain. Stations are located on both sides of the tunnel, and the journey is possible even in the deepest winter.
The tunnel uses a special system with passing loops to let trains go both directions even though the track has only one rail line. This solution shows how engineers dealt with limited space deep inside the mountain.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
