Mondaine Ready To Time The World’s Longest Tunnel

Mondaine are set to take over timing responsibilities for the world’s longest railway tunnel later this year. Mondaine are the official timing partner of the project and they will be taking responsibility for setting the signal time for all rail transportation operating through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which opens next year.

The length of the Gotthard Base Tunnel is going to be 57 kilometres (35 miles) narrowly beating the current record holder, the Seikan Tunnel in Japan. The Seikan Tunnel in Japan will still be the deepest railway tunnel, however, travelling 790 feet below sea level beneth the Tsugaru Strait.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel is going to travel through the Alps and is set to open on the 1^st of June 2016. The purpose of the tunnel is to increase transport capacity across the Gotthard Pass, which is one of the most important passages through the Alps. The tunnel is especially needed as the existing tunnels are already at their capacity limits.

Work on the Gotthard Base Tunnel started all the way back in 1996, meaning it will have taken 20 years of construction and preparation before the tunnel opens next year. The opening of this track will make it the 3^rd tunnel in Switzerland to be the longest tunnel in the world when it opens. The Gotthard Tunnel was the longest tunnel when it opened in 1882 at 15km and the Simplon Tunnel when it opened in 1905 at 19.8km.

Mondaine owners Ronnie and André Bernheim said: “We are very proud of our partnership with such a world record breaking project. The tunnel is characterised in particular by innovation and high craftsmanship – qualities to which we also attach great importance in our watches.”

To coincide with the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, Mondaine are launching a range of limited edition Gotthard Base Tunnel watches. The design of the watches is going to be inspired by the structure of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Although Baselworld 2015 seems like it only finished yesterday, it’s time for you to start looking forward to Baselworld 2016 as Mondaine have announced that is where they will unveil the new range.

Mondaine are also set to announce a number of special events at the opening ceremony of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. André Bernheim captured the excitement of Mondaine’s involvement with this project by saying: “The anticipation at Mondaine is substantial. We are very pleased to be part of this event and another chapter of Swiss innovation history.”

Mondaine’s involvement with the Gotthard Base Tunnel is unsurprising, Mondaine have always been very proud of Swiss culture and innovation. Mondaine’s popular Helvetica range pays homage to the iconic Swiss font – the Helvetica Smart No 1 will be added to the range in the next few months, making it one of the very first Swiss Horological Smartwatches. The iconic Swiss Railway Watch, which links Mondaine with the SBB – using the design of the Swiss Federal Railways clocks, is also as popular as ever.

In fact, when the Gotthard Base Tunnel opens in 2016 Mondaine will be celebrating 30 years of their successful partnership with the SBB.