Clear way for the railway through the Semmering mountain

First turn of the sod in Lower Austria’s Gloggnitz for EUR 3.1 billion project “Semmering-Basistunnel new“
 
After three decades of preparation, the first turn of the sod for the project “Semmering-Basistunnel new“ was made on Wednesday, 25 April 2012 in Gloggnitz. The ceremony took place in the presence of Transport minister Doris Bures, Lower Austria’s Landeshauptmann Dr. Erwin Pröll, Styria’s Landeshauptmann Franz Voves and Christian Kern, CEO ÖBB. The tunnel is deemed to be a key project for the southern railway and the entire high performance network in Austria. “The southern route is one of the most important corridors for traffic in Austria as well as transborder traffic", emphasised Doris Bures. The expansion plays an important role when it comes to handle future volume increases in cargo transport.
 
The investment totals about EUR 3.1 billion; completion of the 27.3 kilometres tunnel is scheduled for 2024. The Semmering-Basistunnel will then link Gloggnitz, Lower Austria, and Mürzzuschlag, Styria, through two parallel tunnel tubes.
 
The first construction measures for the tunnel will take place at the portal in Gloggnitz. The first tunnel driving is scheduled for 2014 in Fröschnitzgraben. All driving works shall be completed by 2021. The shell construction of both tunnel tubes shall be finished by then. After the tunnel equipment is fitted in, the Semmering-Basistunnel shall start operating by the end of 2024. During the construction period 4,000 jobs will be created, and 15,000 in the operational stage.

Quelle: LogEastics

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