A major section of the Brenner Base Tunnel, connecting two of Europe’s most picturesque cities, is complete. When the whole thing is finished the rail route, which will link up Innsbruck, Austria with Verona, Italy, will measure around 168 miles.
The mega-project, which cost £13.2bn, will take train passengers underneath the Alps and should be fully operational by 2032.
Construction started in 2015 and after 8 years the first section is complete. The Isarco River pass, which is on the Italian side of the border, was said to be “highly complex”.
It connects the Brenner tunnel with the existing Brenner line and the Forezza train station.
According to newcivilengineer.com, the initial construction work saw engineers burrow two 82ft to 98ft shafts on both sides of the Isarco River, before freezing the riverbed.
Then, the soil itself was then frozen using liquid nitrogen, creating a 3ft “frozen shell” around the perimeter of the tunnel.
The highly complex engineering meant that local flora and fauna could be protected, as the tunnel was dug only a “few metres” beneath the river.
The giant rail tunnel will connect the cities of Innsbruck in the north and Verona is the south. But what are each of the cities best known for?
Innsbruck is the fifth largest city in Austria and is sandwiched between the German and Italian borders. The city is famous for attracting lovers of winter sports and boasts Imperial and modern architecture.
Meanwhile, Verona is a medieval old town in the north-east of Italy, spearated by the Adige River. From a British perspective, it’s famous for being the setting of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
However, to many other visitors from around the world are drawn to the city’s astonoshing 1st Century Roman ampitheatre.