Fire in the Simplon Tunnel
Novel Redevelopment and Investigation of Causes
The almost 20 km long Simplon Tunnel between Switzerland and Italy was at the time the world’s longest rail tunnel when it was opened with 2 tracks in 1922 and complied with the latest standards (2 bores with changeover and electric operation). Extensive redevelopment and renovation work is to be carried out between 2012 and 2014. The damage resulting from the fire in mid-2011 resulting in a 5-month long closure of one track over half its length had to be repaired by the time the new timetable came into force (December 11, 2011). This aspect together with determining the cause of the fire will...
