Furka Base Tunnel
 South-west portal of the tunnel. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Line | Furka Oberalp Bahn |
| Location | Valais / Uri, Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 46°32′7″N 8°27′12″E / 46.53528°N 8.45333°E |
| Status | Open |
| System | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
| Start | Oberwald, Valais, Switzerland |
| End | Realp, Uri, Switzerland |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 25 June 1982 |
| Owner | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
| Operator | Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn |
| Traffic | Train |
| Character | Passenger and freight |
| Technical | |
| Length | 15.4 km (9.6 mi) |
| Line length | 15.4 km (9.6 mi) |
| No. of tracks | Single track |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
| Electrified | Overhead catenary, 11 kV AC 16 2/3 Hz |
| Highest elevation | 1,538 m (5,046 ft) above the Sea |
| Route map | |
| Template:Infobox rdt | |
The Furka Base Tunnel is a Swiss railway base tunnel on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn's Furka–Oberalp line. It connects Oberwald, at 1,369 metres (4,491 ft)* above sea level) in the Canton of Valais, with Realp, at 1,538 m (5,046 ft) in the Canton of Uri. The base tunnel is 15,407 m (50,548 ft) in length, and replaced the previous track that climbed to an apex of 2,160 m (7,090 ft) above sea level, thus allowing year-round service through service on the Furka–Oberalp line. The old line has been reopened by the Furka Heritage Railway for tourist trains which pass the Furka Pass via the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long Furka Summit Tunnel.[1]
History
Prior to the opening of the base tunnel, the high-level route closed during the winter months because of heavy snowfall, and large sections of the overhead electrical lines had to be dismantled. In 1976, the Parliament of Switzerland passed a bill for its construction, sponsored by Roger Bonvin, following an initial cost estimate of 76 million francs.[citation needed]
The construction costs quickly escalated due to the difficult geological conditions and, in the end, exceeded 300 million Francs. The political fighting surrounding the cost overruns are said to have contributed to Roger Bonvin's ill health toward the end of the project and he died just before its opening in 1982. A plaque commemorating Roger Bonvin is installed as the base tunnel's entrance in Oberwald.[citation needed]
In its initial year of operation, the base tunnel was used to transport more than 75,000 passenger cars, trucks and buses. Currently, it also serves both an hourly regional train and ten daily Glacier Express trains between Zermatt and the ski resort town of St. Moritz. During the winter skiing season, traffic in the tunnel consistently approaches maximum capacity.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz. Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH. 2012. p. 34. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.
External links
Media related to Furka Base Tunnel at Wikimedia Commons
