Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT): from a tunnel to the world’s most advanced railway system.
Drawing on experience gained from the Gotthard BaseTunnel and other major European infrastructure projects, BBT SE is developing the exploratory tunnel into a service tunnel. This will significantly reduce interruptions to rail operations for maintenance work, thereby increasing the availability of the infrastructure. This represents a major advantage throughout the operational phase.
Following the relevant technical and economic assessments, BBT SE today approved the revised project schedule and costs. As a result of updating the railway systems design dating back to 2008, the start of operations is now planned for 2034, while total project costs are expected to rise to €11.7 billion.
“The Brenner Base Tunnel is more than just a tunnel: it is a cross-border railway system that must meet the highest standards of safety, reliability and operation. The technical design has therefore been updated to reflect current technological standards and applicable safety requirements. The additional construction work required and the integration of the railway systems mean more time and higher costs.
The BBT is a unique project that will make a significant contribution to reducing road traffic,” emphasise BBT SE’s two Managing Directors, Umberto Lebruto and Martin Gradnitzer.