Brenner Base Tunnel

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What is the Brenner Base Tunnel?

The world-record rail project between Italy and Austria is set to be finalised and completed by 2032. Austria already began work in 2008 in order to relieve traffic on the Brenner and Inn Valley motorways in the future. The Brenner Base Tunnel is intended to reach a length of 64 km. Around 10 billion euros are budgeted for the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel, shared between Austria, Italy and the EU.

Why is the Brenner Base Tunnel being built?

Due to the high volume of traffic, staggered dispatch (block clearance) is carried out on the A13 at the Brenner Tunnel as soon as the tunnel's capacity is exhausted. With staggered dispatch, the risk of congestion inside the tunnel itself is minimised by only letting cars into the tunnel in batches (often using a traffic light). For all travellers, this mainly means one thing: extra time that they have to factor in, time they don't have or don't want to spend. That is why the Brenner Base Tunnel is now being built in addition to the Brenner Tunnel, in order to counteract the high levels of congestion.

What advantages will the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel bring?

The Brenner Base Tunnel is being built for rail traffic. It represents a new and, above all, faster way to travel the route between Innsbruck and Fortezza for both passenger and freight transport. This means passenger trains will be able to cross the route at over 200 km/h and reach their destination within 25 minutes instead of 80 minutes. In addition, more freight trains will be able to use the base tunnel thanks to the absence of altitude differences.

Advantages for truck drivers

Trucks in particular are responsible for the high traffic volume and thus for the many traffic jams. With the goal of the Brenner Base Tunnel, trucks are meant to disappear as a "rolling road" beneath the mountain, moving more goods from the road onto the railway line.

Advantages for travellers

But the Brenner Base Tunnel also holds promise for travel traffic! In future, all travellers should be able to cover the route from Innsbruck to Fortezza significantly faster, as staggered dispatch will be minimised or prevented thanks to the construction. This should be particularly welcome news for holidaymakers!

If you would like to travel by your own car, then use the Brenner Tunnel and not the Brenner Base Tunnel. You can find more information on the Brenner Tunnel in our guide.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey