Base tunnel
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
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. When originally constructed the "classical" lines through mountainous terrain tried to minimise tunelling, due to expense, often with the consequence of long and steep gradients and sharp curves. The base tunnels take the opposite approach, minimising gradients and curves with the consequence of having longer tunnels.
Base tunnels include:
- Gotthard Base Tunnel, Switzerland
- Zimmerberg Base Tunnel, Switzerland
- Brenner Base Tunnel, Austria and Italy
- Furka Base Tunnel, Switzerland
- Ceneri Base Tunnel, Switzerland
- Lötschberg Base Tunnel, Switzerland
- Apennine Base Tunnel, Italy
- Mont d'Ambin Base Tunnel, France and Italy
- Pajares Base Tunnel, Spain
- Semmering Base Tunnel, Austria