Southern Line revolutionized with Semmering base tunnel construction, a game-changer in rail transport.
Hop on a Train to Graz in no Time! That's the plan by autumn 2030, thankfully reality is just around the corner! The Semmering Base Tunnel, a seemingly impossible idea four decades ago, has finally entered its endgame. On a Tuesday in the not-so-distant future, we'll descend 400 meters deep into the mountain range, laying the groundwork for a 27.3-kilometer-long tunnel.
Once the final meter of tunnel is completed in late November 2024, the exciting interior work begins. Nearly 55 kilometers of concrete inner shell in both tubes have already been installed, with technical tunnel equipment installation starting soon.
Test the Tracks from 2029
To ensure smooth rail operation, all necessary tech facilities will be installed in the tunnel tubes, including cables, internet lines, and rail traffic equipment. The crown jewel of the so-called "Fixed Track" are the concrete sleeper slabs, ultimately holding the rails in place.
The Semmering Base Tunnel: The last 400 meters make all the differenceWith the installation taking over three years, we're hoping to debut test runs by 2029! "Assuming everything goes according to plan, we aim to have the tunnel ready for operations by then to start test runs," project leaders Gerhard Gobiet and his colleague Gernot Nipitsch shared[1].
Mountain Safety: Emergency Stops
During a recent on-site inspection, emphasis was placed on the safety facilities in the tubes. European guidelines require an emergency stop in the mountain interior for tunnels longer than 20 kilometers. For the large Semmering Base Tunnel, that's one kilometer long, acting as a parking spot in times of emergency such as accidents or fires[1]. Through crossings, an escape tunnel is accessible, allowing passengers to be evacuated via rescue trains through the other tube or track if necessary[2].
A Look Back: History of the Base Tunnel
The base tunnel's uniqueness is underscored by its long and complex history. In the 1980s, ÖBB began preliminary planning for the tunnel. After years of disputes, the old project was shelved completely in 2005, shortly followed by the start of planning for the "new Semmering Base Tunnel"[1].
Milestone Achieved: Semmering Base Tunnel completed
With the commissioning of the Koralmbahn this December and the Semmering Base Tunnel in 2030, the 470-kilometer southern route offers a new quality of travel for passengers and freight traffic, according to ÖBB[1].
Reducing Travel Time
Currently, the journey from Vienna to Klagenfurt takes four hours, but with the opening of the Semmering Base Tunnel, this will be cut down to just 2 hours and 40 minutes. Calculations by ÖBB predict that every euro invested in the tunnel will generate five euros in added value for Austria[1].
In a nutshell, the Semmering Base Tunnel will greatly improve rail connections, reduce travel time between Vienna and southern Austria, and enhance infrastructure reliability by 2030[1][2].
[1] - https://www.theconstruction.com/news/tunnel-comes-to-life-ahead-of-austrias-first-all-electric-railway/10032910.article
[2] - https://rachelbaumgarten.at/international/vienna-to-graz-train-journey-to-be-reduced-to-under-three-hours-by-2030/
- The completion of the final meter of the Semmering Base Tunnel in late November 2024 will mark a significant milestone in the automotive industry's public-transit sector, paving the way for improved transportation in the near future.
- Alongside the initiation of the test runs projected for 2029, the former polarizing project now embraced by the comprehensive industry of finance, the Semmering Base Tunnel is poised to revolutionize travel time and logistics within the transportation arena, with a particular focus on the rail system.
- By reducing travel time between Vienna and southern Austria from four hours to just 2 hours and 40 minutes, the finished Semmering Base Tunnel ahead of the commissioning of the Koralmbahn in 2030, will not only improve rail connections but significantly boost the public-transit and automotive sectors in the region, as per ÖBB predictions.
