The Brenner Base Tunnel - a new link through the Alps

ITALY AUSTRIA EMERGENCY STATIONTRENS EMERGENCY STATION INNSBRUCK AMPASS INNSBRUCK PORTAL AHRENTAL AICA FORTEZZA PORTAL MULES NOTHALTESTELLE ST. JODOK WOLF PADASTERTAL BYPASS INNSBRUCK TULFES PORTAL MAIN STATION INNSBRUCK MAIN STATION FORTEZZA SILLSCHLUCHT LEGEND exploratory tunnel access tunnels bypass Innsbruck rescue tunnels connecting tunnels main tunnels 10 Key data Length of the Brenner Base Tunnel mouth at Tulfes to the mouth at Fortezza 64 km Length of the Brenner Base Tunnel mouth at Innsbruck to the mouth at Fortezza 55 km Maximum overburden 1,720 m Inner diameter of the main tunnel 8.1 m Longitudinal gradient 4 ‰– 7‰ Design speed for freight 120 km/h Design speed for passenger transport 250 km/h Emergency stops (Innsbruck, St. Jodok, Trens) 3 Excavation material 21,5 million m 3 Excavation methods 50% by blasting 50 % by TBM Railway traction power supply 25 kV 50 Hz Train control system ETCS Level 2 Planned date of completion 2027 The Brenner Base Tunnel consists of an exploratory tunnel, two main tunnel tubes and four lateral access tunnels, located in Ampass, in Ahrental and in Wolf near Steinach am Brenner in Austria, and in Mules in Italy. The four lateral access tunnels connect the tunnel tubes to the surface. During the construction phase, they are used for logistics, to move the spoil via the access tunnels to the disposal sites. At the same time, all material deliveries for the construction of the tunnel (concrete, iron, tubbing) come in through the access tunnels. The tunnel system