Lötschberg Tunnel

Coordinates: 46°25′49″N 7°43′5″E / 46.43028°N 7.71806°E / 46.43028; 7.71806
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the tunnel opened in 2007, see Lötschberg Base Tunnel.
Lötschberg Tunnel
standard gauge)
Electrified15 kV 16.7 Hz
Highest elevation1,239.54 m (4,066.7 ft)
Lowest elevation1,200 m (3,900 ft) (north portal)
Grade3–7 ‰
Route map
Outline map of the Lötschbergbahn between Spiez and Brig in Switzerland, showing the part from Frutigen to Brig. Note the double loop completed with a 270 degree spiral tunnel between Kandergrund and Felsenburg (ca. km 60 and 70) and the straight stretch of the Lötschberg tunnel between km 75 and 90.
The Lötschberg Tunnel in the outline of the Lötschberg Line showing the planned straight and realized curved tunnel between km 75 and 90. Positions are indicated in travel distance from Bern in [km].[1]

The Lötschberg Tunnel is a 14.612 km (9.079 mi) long

canton of Valais.[2] The top elevation of the tunnel is 1,240 m (4,070 ft) above sea level, this is the highest point of the main Swiss railway network
.

Construction began in 1907 and suffered delays by several severe accidents.

  • February 1908: An avalanche destroyed a hotel that the workers lived in, killing 13.
  • July 1908: The tunnel broke into a deep fissure below the Gasterntal valley and flooded with water and glacial deposit from the fissure, killing 25, and 1554 meters (5100 feet, 0.9656 mile) of the tunnel had to be abandoned and sealed off and replaced by a curved bypass.
  • March 1911: Breakthrough was achieved
  • 3 June 1913: Finalization
  • 15 July 1913: Regular service through the Lötschberg Tunnel began in 1913.

The tunnel is a single bore twin track.

The BLS AG company offers a car transport service through the tunnel, between Kandersteg station and Goppenstein station, for accompanied vehicles. The journey time of approximately 20 minutes, passengers remain in their cars in open sided car transport vehicles. At peak times, the car transport service operates in each direction every 7½ minutes.

The new Lötschberg Base Tunnel, opened on June 15, 2007, has been constructed some 400 m (1,312 ft) below the level of the current Lötschberg Tunnel as part of the NRLA (New Railway Link through the Alps) project.

North portal south of Kandersteg (1200 m a.s.l.)
South portal from Goppenstein (1216 m a.s.l.)
Car transport through the Lötschberg tunnel (Kandersteg)

See also

References

  1. ^ Röll, V. Freiherr von: Enzyklopädie des Eisenbahnwesens, Band 2. Berlin, Wien 1912, p. 256 on www.zeno.org/Roell-1912
  2. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7
    .

Further reading

External links

Media related to Lötschberg rail Tunnel at Wikimedia Commons

46°25′49″N 7°43′5″E / 46.43028°N 7.71806°E / 46.43028; 7.71806

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