Austria
New Semmering Base Tunnel: Gloggnitz Preliminary Work finished
The 27.3 km long New Semmering Base Tunnel (SBTn) is a major element of the new Austrian southern rail route. Its two bores are to be linked every 500 m by cross-passages and an emergency halt with two ventilation shafts being created roughly at the centre of the tunnel. In spite of a four month long hold-up in construction lasting until June 2014 on account of objections by local residents and environmental organizations, the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) still intend completing the project as scheduled in 2025. According to the ÖBB the costs will be in the region of 3.1 billion euros....
