Furka Base Tunnel

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 / 46.53528; 8.45333Coordinates: 46°32′7″N 8°27′12″E / 46.53528°N 8.45333°E / 46.53528; 8.45333
Status Open
System Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
Start Oberwald, Valais, Switzerland
End Realp, Uri, Switzerland
Operation
Opened 25 June 1982 (1982-06-25)
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
Legend
Legend
41.3 Oberwald
to Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
Oberwald deviation tunnel
Rhonebrücke59 m
 Goneribrug60 m
 Furka Base Tunnel entrance
47.2 Geren(crossing loop)
 Furka Base Tunnel15,442 m
<< Bedretto ventilation tunnel
53.0 Rotondo(crossing loop)
Furka Base Tunnel exit
to Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
 59.4 Realp

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.

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.

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.

References

  1. ↑ Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz. Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH. 2012. p. 34. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.


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