Switzerland has opened the world's longest and deepest railway tunnel, 17 years after starting work on the project.
在项目开工17年之后，瑞士终于开通了全球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.
圣哥达铁路隧道长57公里，穿行于该隧道的列车最深将位于地下2.3公里。
The tunnel cost $12 billion to build under the Alps of central Switzerland.
建造该隧道花费了120亿美元，隧道位于瑞士中部的阿尔卑斯山下。
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.
该隧道将会缩短欧洲北部和南部之间列车运行的时间，同时有望降低道路上穿行欧洲南北之间货运汽车的数量。
Many large trucks now carry goods through Europe. The trucks pollute the air.
现在有很多大型卡车在欧洲境内运输货物，这些卡车污染了空气。
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.
这条双向隧道将于12月投入商业运营。正式通车后，每天将会有高达260趟货运列车以及65趟客运列车从这通过。
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.
德国总理默克尔、法国总统奥朗德以及意大利总理伦齐参加了周三的开幕式。现场还有乐队和舞者。为了庆祝这一活动，甚至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.
未来几年，这条新隧道将对瑞士和欧洲其它国家产生影响。
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.
瑞士不是欧盟成员国。但是一些欧盟成员国帮助出资、设计并建造了这条隧道。该隧道预计对欧盟的铁路网有帮助，尤其对德国和意大利之间的交通有帮助。
The tunnel stretches from the German-speaking town of Erstfeld in the north to the Italian-speaking town of Bodio in the south.
该隧道从瑞士北部说德语的埃斯特费尔德小镇通向了南部说意大利语的博迪奥小镇。
I'm Christopher Jones-Cruise.
我是克里斯托弗·琼斯 - 克鲁斯。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)