Mont d'Ambin base tunnel

The plans of the Mont Cenis base tunnels (also the Lyon-Turin base tunnel or Mont- d'Ambin base tunnel ) as the central component of the railway axis Lyon- Turin.

For the international section, the term "( railway ) Lyon-Turin base tunnel " is often used. Besides, is modeled on the existing Mont Cenis railway tunnel, called "Mont Cenis base tunnels " in use. The single tunnel bear the name " Mont- d'Ambin Base Tunnel " ( located west, 57 km long) and " Bussoleno Base Tunnel " ( east, 12 km long) and are close to the Italian community Susa by the " Venaus Viaduct " be connected.

Line integration

The project, which aims to accelerate the rail transit traffic in the east-west direction between France and Italy, is one of the TEN railway axis No. 6 between Lyon and Budapest, and is thus supported by the EU.

The Transalpine rail link between Lyon and Turin is composed of three sections:

• A French part of the metropolitan area between Lyon and Saint -Jean -de- Maurienne
• An Italian part between Bruzolo ( at Bussoleno ) and the metropolitan area of Turin,
• A common Franco- Italian part, consisting of two tunnels that are connected by a viaduct.

The French part is the responsibility of the French railway network operating company RFF, the Italian part responsible for the Italian grid company RFI. For the international section of the company Lyon-Turin Ferroviaire (LTF ), founded in 2001 is responsible, which under French law as a "société par actions simplifiée ", abbreviated as " SAS " ( simplified joint stock company ) operates. In him the power companies in France ( RFF) and Italy (RFI ) are involved in equal parts.

Under Alpetunnel EEIG firmierte a society that had been commissioned in 1994 with preliminary studies for the base tunnel. After France and Italy committed by an agreement dated 29 January 2001, to create the base tunnel, this company was dissolved at the end of 2001.

Mid-2004, the French and Italian governments outermost part of a ministerial meeting for the first time on the financing of the project. Accordingly, the estimated cost of 12.5 billion euros should largely ( five billion euros ) will be borne by the two countries; the EU should participate with 2.6 billion euros. The representatives of the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding. With the opening of the 57 km long tunnel was not expected before 2020.

In early 2005 the contract for the construction of an exploratory tunnel from the Italian town of Venaus was granted ( at Susa ). The projected cost of 80 million euros should be financed by France, Italy and the European Union. The investigation should be completed in 2007. Three more exploratory tunnels were planned on the French side at this time.

Criticism

Already in the 1990s, emerged on the French and Italian side initiatives of regional politicians and companies that were committed to the project goals and provided the political support. Opponents of the project in the Italian Susa Valley, but also many environmental organizations such as Legambiente, which not only draw its benefits in doubt, but also to reassert that the tunnel work is to be done by asbestos and uranium- bearing rock, going since 2005 with large demonstrations to the public.