Ceneri Base Tunnel in the context of "Gotthard Base Tunnel"

Monte Ceneri is a mountain pass in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It connects the Magadino Plain and the Vedeggio Valley across the Lugano Prealps at an elevation of 554 metres (1,818 ft) above sea level. It provides the most direct route between the cities of Bellinzona and Lugano. Despite its name (monte is the Italian word for "mountain"), Monte Ceneri is the lowest point on the crest between Monte Tamaro and the Camoghè.

Two tunnels have been dug under Monte Ceneri, the Monte Ceneri Road Tunnel for the A2 motorway and the Monte Ceneri Rail Tunnel for the Gotthard railway. A new rail tunnel, the Ceneri Base Tunnel, was opened in 2020, and connects Camorino near Bellinzona and Vezia near Lugano.

The Monte Ceneri Rail Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The tunnel is situated under the Monte Ceneri Pass that separates the north of the canton around Bellinzona from the south of the canton around Lugano. It forms part of the Swiss Federal Railways Gotthard line, between Giubiasco and Rivera-Bironico stations. The tunnel comprises two bores, built at different times. The first bore, sometimes known as Monte Ceneri I, was opened on 10 April 1882 and is 1,675 metres (5,495 ft) in length. The second bore, Monte Ceneri II, was opened on 18 October 1933 and is 1,692 metres (5,551 ft) in length. Both bores carry a single standard gauge (1,435 mm or 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) track electrified at 15 kV AC 16 2/3 Hz using overhead catenary.

The rail tunnel is paralleled by the Monte Ceneri Road Tunnel, carrying the A2 motorway under the same pass. The Ceneri Base Tunnel has recently been completed beneath the pass at a much lower level.