Arlberg Railway Tunnel

The Arlberg tunnel forms with a length of 10,648 m between St. Anton am Arlberg and Langen am Arlberg the central part of the Arlberg railway.

History

The Arlberg tunnel was built between 1879 and 1884 after the so-called "old Austrian Tunneling Method ".

Among the game guides the construction of the Arlberg railway tunnel in the years 1880-1884 was also Johann Bertolini, who was honored for his performance with the breakthrough medal. The puncture was made on November 19, 1883 on the occasion of the name day of Empress Elisabeth.

On September 21, 1884, initially developed single-track tunnel was opened. The traffic became so gratifying that already on July 15, 1885, second track was opened by the two tracks projected from the beginning Arlberg tunnel.

At the apex of the tunnel was formed always a very unpleasant for engineers and stubbornly entertaining Dampfpfropfen. With the electrification of the tunnel with the system 15 kV / 16.7 Hz on 20 November 1924, the problem was solved in 1925 still followed the ramp routes.

As part of the route to the Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 Ausbaues the hitherto straight railway line in the area of ​​St. Anton was moved and the east portal of the tunnel to the south and in the context. This, or by expansion of the then 10249.90 m long tunnel was extended by 398 meters, he now opens directly into the station of St. Anton.

Security

Six connecting galleries with 150 to 300 meters in length were to increase the safety in the tunnel between 2004 and 2007 built parallel to the leading Arlberg road tunnel in the first stage. The maximum distance between these crosscuts is 1,700 meters. Included in 2008 featured security concept are two escape tunnels, one of which leads directly into the open-air site to the wolf mine tunnel and another. The construction of a parallel escape tunnel is not required because the Arlberg road tunnel horizontally and 35 meters vertically with a maximum distance of 400 meters can be used as a means of escape. The safety concept, which was drafted with ASFINAG together, also includes the reverse use of the railway tunnel as an escape tunnel for the road tunnel. The railway tunnel is navigable throughout the length and breadth of emergency vehicles. The concept was tested in October 2010 with an exercise at which participated about 200 exercise Figuranten.

With escape tunnels that lead to collection chambers, the two Arlberg tunnel were connected

Information panel for self-rescue in the Arlberg tunnel