VOA慢速英语：瑞士开通了世界最长最深铁路隧道

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.

在该项目动工17年后，瑞士已开通世界最长最深的铁路隧道。

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

戈特哈德铁路隧道总长57千米。其地下最深处有2.3千米。

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

该隧道位于瑞士中部阿尔卑斯山脉下，总共花费120亿美元。

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

该隧道将缩短乘坐火车从北欧到南欧的时间。它也有望减少公路交通，从北到南运货。

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

现在许多大型卡车通过欧洲运输货物。卡车污染了空气。

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

双向隧道的开通是为了在12月提供商务服务。到那时，每天会有约260列货运列车和65列客运列车通过该隧道。

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime 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.

德国总理安吉拉·默克尔、法国总统弗朗索瓦·奥朗德和意大利总理马泰奥·伦齐在周三出席了开通仪式。现场还有乐队及舞蹈表演。为了庆祝该事件，还特地为该隧道写了一首特别的歌曲。

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

这条新隧道在今后的一些年里会影响瑞士以及其余整个欧洲。

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.

瑞士并非欧盟成员国。但是一些欧盟成员国也帮助出资、设计并建造了这条隧道。这条隧道有望队欧盟铁路网络有所助益——尤其是德国和意大利之间的交通。

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

该隧道从北方说德语的城镇斯特菲尔德一直延伸到南方说意大利语的城镇博迪奥。

I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.

克里斯托佛·琼斯·克鲁斯报道。

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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. related 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