Tauern Rail Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Tauern Railway Tunnel in Austria
is the longest tunnel of the Tauern Railway
crossing the main chain of the Alps
. Currently, it has a length of 8.371 kilometres (5.2 mi). The highest point of the tunnel, which is also the highest point in all of the railway line, is at 1226 metres (4,022.3 ft) above sea level
. The tunnel's north entrance is at Böckstein in the valley of Bad Gastein
in the state of Salzburg
, the south entrance near Mallnitz
in Carinthia
.
and Villach
leading to the Southern Railway
already existed in the 1880s. This line would be especially important for the transportation of goods between the industrialised north of Austria-Hungary
and Trieste
, then the monarchy's main port on the Adriatic Sea
. It was only after the Austrians had watched their neighbours, the Swiss
, obtain a remarkable achievement, as they managed to finish their Gotthard Tunnel
, as early as 1881.
Planning for the Tauern railway line and tunnel started in the early 1890s. Tunnelling began in July 1901 from the north side, work on the south side started in October of that same year. The work was supervised by Civil Engineer Karl Wurmb (1850-1907), whilst most of the backbreaking labour was performed by an Italian workforce. Despite many difficulties, construction was finished in 1906. The official opening took place on 5 July 1909 in presence of Emperor Francis Joseph
, along with the rest of the Tauern Railway line. Although many other parts of the line were single track, the tunnel was equipped with two tracks from the beginning.
Between 1925 and 1935, the tunnel was electrified, along with the rest of the line. With steam locomotives having been replaced by electric ones, the air intakes, formerly needed to supply the tunnel with extra fresh air, were no longer necessary. Between 2000 and 2004, the tunnel underwent extensive renovation works. During the works, the northern tunnel entrance was altered. There used to be a rather notorious curve near this entrance, in which many trains used to derail. The first part of the tunnel, which was not very deep underground, was dug open, moving the tunnel entrance 179 metres back, shortening the tunnel's length from 8,550 to 8,371 metres. The old tunnel entrance remained in its original place, now serving as a memorial arch. Also during the renovation, all the rails and power lines were replaced, damaged sections of the tunnel wall were repaired, and fire detection systems were installed.
, 29 May 1999, as well as in other countries, (Mont Blanc Tunnel
, 24 March 1999, Gotthard Tunnel
, 24 October 2001), the Austrian government expressed its concerns about the safety in tunnels, not only in road tunnels, but also in railway tunnels, considering the large amounts of dangerous goods being transported through them. With the scheduled renovation came the installation of extensive systems for fire detection, emergency report systems and escape route indications. The car transport system was also adapted to new safety regulations. Formerly, passengers using the Autoschleuse were allowed to stay in their cars during the 11-minute journey. Nowadays, all passengers have to get into a passenger carriage directly behind the locomotive. In case of fire, the train will automatically uncouple the car transporters and leave them behind, while the locomotive and the passenger carriages are moved out of the tunnel as fast as possible. Special fire extinguishing trains are located at both ends of the tunnel.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
is the longest tunnel of the Tauern Railway
Tauern Railway
The Tauern Railway is an Austrian railway line between Schwarzach-Sankt Veit in the state of Salzburg and Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia. It is part of one of the most important north-south trunk routes in Europe and also carries tourist traffic for the Gastein Valley...
crossing the main chain of the Alps
Main chain of the Alps
The Alpine divide is the central line of mountains that forms the water divide of the range. Main chains of mountain ranges are traditionally designated in this way, and generally include the highest peaks of a range; the Alps are something of an unusual case in that several significant groups of...
. Currently, it has a length of 8.371 kilometres (5.2 mi). The highest point of the tunnel, which is also the highest point in all of the railway line, is at 1226 metres (4,022.3 ft) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The tunnel's north entrance is at Böckstein in the valley of Bad Gastein
Bad Gastein
Bad Gastein is a spa town in the Austrian state of Salzburg, situated at the northern rim of the Hohe Tauern national park. It has 5,838 inhabitants. The name "Bad" means "spa", reflecting the town's history as a health resort. It is located at the head of the Gastein valley, about 1,000 metres ...
in the state of Salzburg
Salzburg (state)
Salzburg is a state or Land of Austria with an area of 7,156 km2, located adjacent to the German border. It is also known as Salzburgerland, to distinguish it from its capital city, also named Salzburg...
, the south entrance near Mallnitz
Mallnitz
Mallnitz is a town in the district of Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia in Austria....
in Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
.
Construction
Plans for constructing an interconnection railway line between the terminus of the Austrian Western Railway at the city of SalzburgSalzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
and Villach
Villach
Villach is the second largest city in the Carinthia state in the southern Austria, at the Drava River and represents an important traffic junction for Austria and the whole Alpe-Adria region. , the population is 58,480.-History:...
leading to the Southern Railway
Austrian Southern Railway
The Austrian Southern Railway was an Austrian railway company established in 1841...
already existed in the 1880s. This line would be especially important for the transportation of goods between the industrialised north of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
and Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, then the monarchy's main port on the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. It was only after the Austrians had watched their neighbours, the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, obtain a remarkable achievement, as they managed to finish their Gotthard Tunnel
Gotthard Rail Tunnel
The Gotthard Rail Tunnel, is a 15-kilometre long railway tunnel and forms the summit of the Gotthard Railway in Switzerland. It connects Göschenen with Airolo and was the first tunnel through the Gotthard massif...
, as early as 1881.
Planning for the Tauern railway line and tunnel started in the early 1890s. Tunnelling began in July 1901 from the north side, work on the south side started in October of that same year. The work was supervised by Civil Engineer Karl Wurmb (1850-1907), whilst most of the backbreaking labour was performed by an Italian workforce. Despite many difficulties, construction was finished in 1906. The official opening took place on 5 July 1909 in presence of Emperor Francis Joseph
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
, along with the rest of the Tauern Railway line. Although many other parts of the line were single track, the tunnel was equipped with two tracks from the beginning.
Between 1925 and 1935, the tunnel was electrified, along with the rest of the line. With steam locomotives having been replaced by electric ones, the air intakes, formerly needed to supply the tunnel with extra fresh air, were no longer necessary. Between 2000 and 2004, the tunnel underwent extensive renovation works. During the works, the northern tunnel entrance was altered. There used to be a rather notorious curve near this entrance, in which many trains used to derail. The first part of the tunnel, which was not very deep underground, was dug open, moving the tunnel entrance 179 metres back, shortening the tunnel's length from 8,550 to 8,371 metres. The old tunnel entrance remained in its original place, now serving as a memorial arch. Also during the renovation, all the rails and power lines were replaced, damaged sections of the tunnel wall were repaired, and fire detection systems were installed.
Autoschleuse
Ever since the First World War, motor vehicles are being transported by train from one side to the other. The Autoschleuse or Tauernschleuse, known in English as Tauern Motorail consists of a specially adapted train, with the possibility to load and unload many cars in a short amount of time. Since the safety rules were sharpened, the train also consists of several passenger carriages and passengers travel within them.Safety issues
After a large number of serious accidents, in Austria (Tauern Road TunnelTauern Road Tunnel
The Tauern Road Tunnel is located in the Austrian federal state of Salzburg in Austria on the Tauern Autobahn north - south connection between Germany and Italy and Slovenia. This is a toll road. Since October 2007, the toll has been 12 euros per car and journey...
, 29 May 1999, as well as in other countries, (Mont Blanc Tunnel
Mont Blanc Tunnel
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Alps under the Mont Blanc mountain, linking Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France , and Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy . It is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes, particularly for Italy, which relies on the tunnel for transporting as much as...
, 24 March 1999, Gotthard Tunnel
Gotthard Road Tunnel
The St. Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland runs from Göschenen in the Canton of Uri at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south, and is just under in length below the St. Gotthard Pass...
, 24 October 2001), the Austrian government expressed its concerns about the safety in tunnels, not only in road tunnels, but also in railway tunnels, considering the large amounts of dangerous goods being transported through them. With the scheduled renovation came the installation of extensive systems for fire detection, emergency report systems and escape route indications. The car transport system was also adapted to new safety regulations. Formerly, passengers using the Autoschleuse were allowed to stay in their cars during the 11-minute journey. Nowadays, all passengers have to get into a passenger carriage directly behind the locomotive. In case of fire, the train will automatically uncouple the car transporters and leave them behind, while the locomotive and the passenger carriages are moved out of the tunnel as fast as possible. Special fire extinguishing trains are located at both ends of the tunnel.