Major Milestone Achieved in Brenner Base Tunnel Construction

ROME, Italy — Workers opened a new underground tunnel connecting Austria and Italy on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the Brenner Base Tunnel project. This tunnel will serve as a high-speed rail line linking northern and southern Europe.

The Brenner Base Tunnel, touted as the longest underground rail connection in the world, is part of the European Union‘s initiative to reduce freight transport by road, thereby cutting pollution and enhancing cross-border trade. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared during the tunnel’s ceremonial breakthrough, “Today we are taking together a decisive step for the construction of one of the largest infrastructure works in the entire continent. It is a historic day … for Italy, for Austria, and for the whole of Europe.”

The tunnel, once completed, will span 55 kilometers (about 34 miles) and will extend to 64 kilometers by connecting to an existing underground link in Innsbruck. It is scheduled to open in 2032, although it is currently projected to be 16 years behind schedule and will cost approximately 8.5 billion euros ($10 billion), which is about 2.5 billion euros above budget.

The Brenner Pass is one of Europe’s busiest mountain routes for freight transport, with over 2.5 million trucks and 50 million tonnes of goods crossing each year. Presently, around 70% of trans-Alpine freight traffic moves by road, while rail transport accounts for only 30%. The new tunnel aims to significantly change this ratio.

However, challenges remain, particularly concerning Germany, which contributes significantly to the road traffic through the Alps. The completion of essential northern access routes to connect with the Brenner tunnel has yet to be finalized.

At the ceremony, Meloni emphasized the environmental benefits, noting that the project would improve air quality, decrease noise, and lower CO2 emissions. Officials hope to shift up to 50% of heavy road traffic to rail with the completion of the Brenner Base Tunnel.