Breakthrough at Bleßberg Tunnel
The 8,314 m twin-track long Bleßberg Tunnel is the longest on the new Ebensfeld-Erfurt rail route – German Unity Rail Project No. 8 (VDE 8.1) and once commissioned will be the third longest twin-track rail tunnel in Germany. With overburden of up to 230 m the tunnel underpasses the main reaches of the Thuringian Forest between Truckenthal and Goldisthal. The breakthrough took place on June 29, 2011.
The south portal is located at only 502 m ASL, the north portal at 593 m given 1.09 % gradient. The rail tunnel possesses a clear height of 8.23 m above the upper edge of the rail and a clear width...