Tunnel Breakthrough Celebration for Semmering Base Tunnel
For the Semmering Base Tunnel, which has been completed since the end of November 2024, there was a truly grand celebration on Friday. Representatives of the EU, the federal government, and the states of Lower Austria and Styria celebrated in Gloggnitz in the Neunkirchen district together with the ÖBB "one of the largest domestic infrastructure projects," as Federal Railways CFO Manuela Waldner described it. She paid "highest respect" to those involved in the work.
The commissioning of the tunnel will "revolutionize" train travel on the southern route, said Waldner, representing the sick ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä. Where once it was "free travel over the Semmering", it will be "free travel through the Semmering" in 2030. The CFO spoke of a "game changer for Austria and Europe".
Completion of Semmering Base Tunnel has European Dimension
Anne Elisabet Jensen, EU Coordinator Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, pointed out many measures that are necessary when it comes to a green turnaround. The completion of projects like the Koralmbahn or the Semmering Base Tunnel has a clear European dimension. They are important parts of the axis from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic, emphasized the Dane, who was "massively impressed".
The Semmering Tunnel is "truly a milestone," said Minister Leonore Gewessler (Green). She described the railway as "essential for climate protection". The rail must become "the backbone of mobility". Lower Austria's governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) pointed out the "engineering art" behind the project and the strengthening of the economic location that the tunnel will mean. In a federal state, of course, both rail and road are needed.
"Impressed by what has been achieved," showed Lower Austria's deputy governor Udo Landbauer (FPÖ). "That won't work out (on the road, note) anymore," he stated as an "enthusiastic car driver", when Vienna - Graz will be connected in less than two hours from 2030 and it will take another 45 minutes from the Styrian capital to Klagenfurt from December. Like Mikl-Leitner, Styria's deputy governor Manuela Khom (ÖVP) also highlighted the strengthening of the economic and industrial location. The Semmering Tunnel, like the Koralmbahn, is a "century project," said Transport Minister Claudia Holzer (FPÖ).
Traveling Through Semmering at Up to 230 km/h by 2030
The third National Council President Doris Bures (SPÖ) recalled the "years of struggle" that preceded the project. The tunnel was "very controversial" at the beginning, said the "godmother".
The breakthrough of the two tubes, each 27.3 kilometers long, was according to ÖBB "another major milestone". The completion of all drives in the Semmering tunnel was thus accomplished. The Lower Austrian Gloggnitz is now fully connected underground in two tubes with the Styrian Mürzzuschlag (Bruck-Mürzzuschlag district). The lining with a concrete inner shell has been underway since 2020. After the completion of these works, the "railway technical tunnel equipment" will follow. The construction start for this is planned for the summer of 2025. When trains finally travel through the 4.2 billion euro expensive tunnel at up to 230 km/h in 2030, the expansion of the 470-kilometer-long southern route, which is part of the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor covering 1,700 kilometers, will be completed.
Commemoration of Fatalities at Ceremony
At the ceremony in Gloggnitz on Friday, those who had died in accidents during the work were also remembered. Four people lost their lives in the years 2020 and 2023, recalled project manager Gerhard Grobiet.
(APA/Red)
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