The Brenner Base Tunnel is the heart of Europe’s north-south link. The desire for a modern and environmentally friendly means of goods transports on this transalpine route can only come to pass through the construction of a high-speed route through the Brenner massif, the Brenner Base Tunnel. The Brenner Base Tunnel is a straight, flat railway tunnel connecting two countries. The BBT runs for 55 km between Innsbruck (in Austria) and Fortezza (in Italy). Thanks to the low gradient of 4 ‰ - 7 ‰ and the relatively flat course of the line, the tunnel cuts the route length between Fortezza and Innsbruck by 20 km, from 75 km down to 55 km. In May 1994, a railway bypass was opened south of Innsbruck, known as the “Inn valley tunnel”. This 12.7 km tunnel links to the Brenner Base Tunnel. Passenger and freight trains along this stretch will therefore not only travel through the BBT, but for a few kilometres, through the Inn valley tunnel as well. These 64 kilometres of tunnel (9 km Inn valley tunnel + 55 km Brenner Base Tunnel) will become the longest underground railway connection in the world. Across the Alps in 25 minutes The BBT reduces both route length and travel time for rail traffic between Innsbruck and Fortezza. Passenger trains will travel through the tunnel at a speed of over 200 km/h. Due to the elimination of steep gradients, even more longer and heavier freight trains can travel through this stretch. They require less energy on the flat railway than on the existing railway line. For passenger traffic, this means that in the future the stretch between Innsbruck and Fortezza will be covered in just 25 minutes using the BBT. Today, it takes 80 minutes on the existing railway line. The Brenner Base Tunnel is considered a pioneering work of engineering and it will markedly improve passenger travel and freight transport through the heart of Europe. 12 BRENNER BASE TUNNEL freight trains max. 160 km/h passenger trains max. 250 km/h Shorter travel times Innsbruck − Fortezza: Down to 25 minutes Design speed:
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