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{{unreferenced|date=February 2013}}
{{more sources|date=January 2022}}
{{Short description|Tunnel under a mountain pass at adjoining valley floor level}}
[[File:Mountain tunnels.svg|thumb|right|250px|Different types of tunnels. Number one shows a base tunnel]]
A '''base tunnel''' is a type of [[tunnel]], mainly a [[Rail transport|railway]] tunnel, that is built through the base of a [[mountain pass]]. This type of tunnel typically connects two [[valley]]s at about the same [[altitude]]s.<ref name="LZMK">{{cite web |url=http://www.enciklopedija.hr/natuknica.aspx?ID=62681 |title=LZMK: ''tunel'' |language=hr |publisher=enciklopedija.hr |accessdate=June 2, 2016 |quote=...&nbsp;prema dubini u terenu: niskoležeći (bazni) tuneli, tuneli koji spajaju dvije doline približno iste nadmorske visine, visokoležeći kratki vododijelni tuneli s usponima s obiju strana i prijelomom nivelete u sredini tunela te niskoležeći dugi vododijelni tuneli s jednim nagibom. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602151538/http://www.enciklopedija.hr/natuknica.aspx?ID=62681 |archivedate=June 2, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>


⚫
When originally constructed, classical railway lines through mountainous terrain tried to minimize tunneling, due to technical limitations and expense, and therefore required long and steep gradients and many curves, or even spirals. Tunnels were generally short and much higher up the mountain. Such tunnels are sometimes also called ''culmination tunnels'', especially in the presence of a base tunnel through the same mountain massif.
A '''base tunnel''' is a type of [[tunnel]] (often but not always a railway tunnel) that is built through the base of a mountain pass.


The base tunnels take the opposite approach, minimizing or eliminating gradients and curves with the consequence of having longer tunnels but shorter total distances to travel.
⚫
When originally constructed the "classical" lines through mountainous terrain tried to minimise tunneling, due to technical limitations and expense limits, often with the consequence of long and steeper gradients and many curves, or even spirals. Such tunnels are sometimes also called [[culmination tunnel]]s, especially in the presence of a base tunnel through the same mountain massif.
This allows for higher speeds and lower energy costs.


[[File:GBT-ESS.png|thumb|right|330px|Schematic representation of a normal base tunnel construction method in [[Europe]]; they have two tubes connected every few hundred meters in order to enable evacuation in case of emergency<br /><small>&#91;image shows an evacuation station of the base tunnel [[Gotthard Base Tunnel|Gotthard]], the longest railway tunnel in the world&nbsp;– {{convert|57|km|mi|abbr=on}}&#93;</small>]]
The base tunnels take the opposite approach, eliminating, or at least, minimising gradients to a minimum and eliminating curves with the consequence of having longer tunnels, but less longer distances to travel. Usually, there is, first of all, an already existing culmination tunnel, secondly, there would not be the possibility or reasonability to built a tunnel at an even lower altitude.


Some of the best-known base tunnels are (with length, opening and location):
Base tunnels include:


== Operational ==
* [[Gotthard Base Tunnel]], Switzerland
* [[Zimmerberg Base Tunnel]], Switzerland
* [[Gotthard Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|57.1|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, 2016), Switzerland
* [[Brenner Base Tunnel]], Austria and Italy
* [[Lötschberg Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|34.6|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, 2007), Switzerland
* [[Furka Base Tunnel]], Switzerland
* [[Pajares Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|24.7|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, 2023), Spain
* [[Ceneri Base Tunnel]], Switzerland
* [[Zimmerberg Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, ''planned''), Switzerland
* [[Lötschberg Base Tunnel]], Switzerland
* [[Simplon Tunnel]] ({{convert|19.8|km}}, 1906/1921), Switzerland
* [[Apennine Base Tunnel]], Italy
* [[Apennine Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|18.5|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, 1934), Italy
* [[Mont d'Ambin Base Tunnel]], France and Italy
* [[Ceneri Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|15.4|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, 2020), Switzerland
* [[Pajares Base Tunnel]], Spain
* [[Furka Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|15.4|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, 1982), Switzerland

* [[Semmering Base Tunnel]], Austria
== Projected ==
* [[Mont d'Ambin Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|57.5|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, ''proj. 2032''), France and Italy
* [[Brenner Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|55|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, ''proj. 2025''), Austria and Italy
* [[Koralm Tunnel]] ({{convert|32.9|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, ''proj. 2026''), Austria
* [[Semmering Base Tunnel]] ({{convert|27.3|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, ''proj. 2027''), Austria
* [[Tortona–Genoa high-speed railway|Valico Tunnel]] ({{convert|27|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}, ''proj. 2025''), Italy
* [[Ore Mountain Base Tunnel]] on the [[Dresden‒Prague high-speed line|Dresden - Prague high speed rail line]], Germany/Czech Republic ({{convert|30.4|km|abbr=on}})<ref>https://www.dresden-praha.eu/en/the-project</ref><ref>https://www.smwa.sachsen.de/blog/2024/09/13/zwischen-sachsen-und-boehmen-die-eisenbahnneubaustrecke-dresden-prag-als-europaeisches-bindeglied/</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Mountain tunnels]]
[[Category:Base tunnels|*]]
[[Category:Base tunnels|*]]

Latest revision as of 19:59, 22 December 2024

Different types of tunnels. Number one shows a base tunnel

A base tunnel is a type of tunnel, mainly a railway tunnel, that is built through the base of a mountain pass. This type of tunnel typically connects two valleys at about the same altitudes.[1]

When originally constructed, classical railway lines through mountainous terrain tried to minimize tunneling, due to technical limitations and expense, and therefore required long and steep gradients and many curves, or even spirals. Tunnels were generally short and much higher up the mountain. Such tunnels are sometimes also called culmination tunnels, especially in the presence of a base tunnel through the same mountain massif.

The base tunnels take the opposite approach, minimizing or eliminating gradients and curves with the consequence of having longer tunnels but shorter total distances to travel. This allows for higher speeds and lower energy costs.

Schematic representation of a normal base tunnel construction method in Europe; they have two tubes connected every few hundred meters in order to enable evacuation in case of emergency
[image shows an evacuation station of the base tunnel Gotthard, the longest railway tunnel in the world – 57 km (35 mi)]

Some of the best-known base tunnels are (with length, opening and location):

Operational

[edit]

Projected

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "LZMK: tunel" (in Croatian). enciklopedija.hr. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016. ... prema dubini u terenu: niskoležeći (bazni) tuneli, tuneli koji spajaju dvije doline približno iste nadmorske visine, visokoležeći kratki vododijelni tuneli s usponima s obiju strana i prijelomom nivelete u sredini tunela te niskoležeći dugi vododijelni tuneli s jednim nagibom.
  2. ^ https://www.dresden-praha.eu/en/the-project
  3. ^ https://www.smwa.sachsen.de/blog/2024/09/13/zwischen-sachsen-und-boehmen-die-eisenbahnneubaustrecke-dresden-prag-als-europaeisches-bindeglied/
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