New Lower Inn Valley railway

Last updated
New Lower Inn Valley railway
Bahnstrecke Kufstein-Innsbruck.png
Overview
Native nameNeue Unterinntalbahn
Line number330 01
LocaleAustria
Service
Route number300
Technical
Line length40.236 km (25.001 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 15 kV/16.7 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed220 km/h (135 mph)
Route map

Contents

BSicon vSPL1+f~l~l.svg
BSicon extSHI1re.svg
Planned railway
BSicon xvUSTu+r.svg
Original line
from Kufstein
BSicon exlvBST.svg
BSicon xvevSTR.svg
Schaftenau junction
BSicon xvUSTur.svg
BSicon vSPL2~l~l.svg
BSicon exSHI1+r.svg
Existing line
to Wörgl
BSicon exCSTRa@g.svg
BSicon exTUNNEL2.svg
BSicon exCSTR.svg
Angath
BSicon exTUNNEL2.svg
BSicon exCSTR.svg
Angerberg
BSicon exTUNNEL2.svg
BSicon exCSTR.svg
Breitenbach
BSicon extSTRa.svg
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon extKRZW.svg
Inn
BSicon vSTR+1-.svg
BSicon extSHI1l.svg
BSicon xvUSTu+tle.svg
Original line
from Wörgl
BSicon lvBST.svg
BSicon xvevSTRxa.svg
24.262
Radfeld junction
BSicon vUSTul.svg
BSicon vSPL3~r~r.svg
BSicon SHI1+l.svg
Original line
BSicon tCSTRea.svg
26.500
27.291
Radfeld cutting
Münsterer tunnel
(L 00.791 m)
(L 15.990 m)
BSicon tKRZW.svg
Inn
BSicon STRc3~L.svg
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon dSTRc12.svg
BSicon dSTR3+4.svg
Existing line
BSicon STRc4~L.svg
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon tCSTRae.svg
43.269
Jenbach cutting
(L 620 m)
BSicon vSPL4+f~r~r.svg
BSicon SHI1l.svg
Original line
from Jenbach
BSicon vUSTu+r.svg
BSicon vBST.svg
43.890
Stans junction
BSicon vUSTul.svg
BSicon vSPL3~r~r.svg
BSicon SHI1+l.svg
Existing line
to Fritzens-Wattens 2 junction
BSicon STRc3.svg
BSicon tCSTRea.svg
44.760
45.274
Stans cutting
Terfner tunnel
(L 00.514 m)
(L 15,840 m)
BSicon tKRZ2+4.svg
Existing line
BSicon STRc12.svg
BSicon etDST.svg
Vomp passing station
planned
BSicon tKRZ3+1.svg
Existing line
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon tCSTRa.svg
61,160
Baumkirchen cutting
(L 624 m)
BSicon CSTR.svg
61,524
61,407
Change of chainage (-117 m)
BSicon CSTRe@f.svg
61,667
BSicon vSPL4+f~r~r.svg
BSicon SHI1l.svg
Existing line
from Stans junction
BSicon vUSTu+l.svg
BSicon vBST.svg
61.749
Fritzens-Wattens 2 junction
Baumkirchen interconnection
BSicon vUSTo2.svg
Innsbruck bypass
to Innsbruck 1 junction
BSicon vSTR3~r.svg
BSicon STRc1.svg
Original line
Source: German railway atlas [1]

The New Lower Inn Valley railway (German: Neue Unterinntalbahn) is a partially completed double-track high-speed main line of the Austrian railways. It connects the Brenner railway at Innsbruck and the Innsbruck bypass with the line to Kufstein, connecting with Germany, Salzburg, and eastern Austria. It forms a part of the core of the network of Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). The bypass is part of Line 1 of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). The first section (Kundl–Baumkirchen), which is designed for speeds up to 220 km/h (140 mph), was opened on 26 November 2012. [2] Since the timetable change on 9 December 2012, it relieves the existing Lower Inn Valley railway between Wörgl and Baumkirchen with trains able to operate at up to 250 km/h (160 mph). In the future, these and other construction projects (including the Brenner Base Tunnel) are expected to reduce travel time on the Munich–Innsbruck route from 1:50 to 0:55 and on the Munich–Verona route from 5:20 to 2:20. [3] The cost of the project amounted to €2.358 billion. [4]

History

The KundlBaumkirchen section was opened on 26 December 2012.

Route: section 1: Kundl-Baumkirchen

Looking east: the middle tracks are the end of the Munsterer tunnel, part of the Stans link. The outside tracks are the new route of the original line, which has been in operation since 15 August 2011 2011.05.30 NUIB von Jenbach.jpg
Looking east: the middle tracks are the end of the Münsterer tunnel, part of the Stans link. The outside tracks are the new route of the original line, which has been in operation since 15 August 2011

The line is 40 km (25 mi) long, of which approximately 32 km (20 mi) is in tunnels or deep cuttings. One segment has been made as an upgrade of the original line while the other is an entirely new line:

Signalling

The new line is fitted with ETCS Level 2 signalling system. Four new electronic interlocking systems were built to control both the new line and the existing line. These systems are remotely controlled from the new Innsbruck operations control centre (Betriebsfernsteuerzentrale). [7]

Planning: section 2: Brannenburg-Kundl

The approximately 25 km (16 mi) section from Brannenburg in Germany to Kundl is currently in the planning phase with route selection between Schaftenau and Kundl having been completed. The continuation of the route into Germany is currently being negotiated. [8]

Concrete shell for the new line Unterinntalbahn, Galerie Terfens, Rohbau.jpg
Concrete shell for the new line

The selected route south from Schaftenau would leave the existing line via several short tunnels and cuttings to join the route of the A12 autobahn. It would then run through a nearly 10 km (6.2 mi)-long tunnel under the mountains of the southern Angerbergs and under the Inn, the A12 and the built-up areas of Kundl before emerging between the tracks of the existing line and running to the grade-separated junction at Radfeld. [9]

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The Austrian Federal Railways, now commonly known as ÖBB, is the national railway company of Austria, and the administrator of Liechtenstein's railways. The ÖBB group is owned entirely by the Republic of Austria, and is divided into several separate businesses that manage the infrastructure and operate passenger and freight services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenner Base Tunnel</span> Railway under construction through the Alps

The Brenner Base Tunnel is a 55-kilometre-long (34 mi) railway tunnel under construction through the base of the Eastern Alps beneath the Brenner Pass. Once completed, the Brenner Base Tunnel will rank as either the second or third longest railway tunnel in the world, depending on the definition employed. It will be surpassed in length only by the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland and, depending on the relative completion dates of these projects, the Mont d'Ambin Base Tunnel between France and Italy. When combined with the Inntal Tunnel, which forms part of the existing Innsbruck bypass, the Brenner Base Tunnel will reach a length of 64 kilometres (40 mi), making it the longest underground railway connection in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Austria</span>

Rail transport in Austria is mainly provided by Austria's national rail transport company, the Austrian Federal Railways, which also manages rail transport in Liechtenstein. The Austrian railway network has a length of 6,123 km (3,805 mi), 3,523 km (2,189 mi) of which are electrified. Most lines are in 1,435 mmstandard gauge, while especially in the Alpine region there are several narrow-gauge railway lines and funiculars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kundl</span> Municipality in Tyrol, Austria

Kundl is a market town in the Kufstein district in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railjet</span> European high-speed rail service operated by ÖBB and ČD

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosenheim station</span> Railway station in Bavaria, Germany

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The Brenner Railway is a major line connecting the Austrian and Italian railways from Innsbruck to Verona, climbing up the Wipptal, passing over the Brenner Pass, descending down the Eisacktal to Bolzano/Bozen, then further down the Adige Valley to Rovereto/Rofreit, and along the section of the Adige Valley, called in Italian the "Vallagarina", to Verona. This railway line is part of the Line 1 of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). It is considered a "fundamental" line by the state railways Ferrovie dello Stato (FS).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Inn Valley Railway</span> Railway line in Austria

The Lower Inn Valley Railway is a two-track, electrified railway line that is one of the major lines of the Austrian railways. It was originally opened as the k.k. Nordtiroler Staatsbahn. It begins at the German border near the Austrian city of Kufstein as a continuation of the Rosenheim–Kufstein line and runs in a generally south-westerly direction through Tyrol along the Inn valley to Innsbruck. The line is part of the Line 1 of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). The line is owned and operated by Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innsbruck bypass</span> Key rail transport link in western Austria

The Innsbruck bypass is a 14.853-kilometre (9.229 mi)-long double-track electrified main line of the Austrian railways. It connects the Lower Inn Valley railway with the Brenner railway, bypassing Innsbruck. It was opened on 29 May 1994. The line is at a major part of the rail freight network of Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosenheim–Kufstein railway</span> Double-track main line in Germany

The Rosenheim–Kufstein railway is a 32 kilometre-long double-track main line of the German railways. It connects the Munich–Rosenheim and the Rosenheim–Salzburg lines at Rosenheim with the line to Innsbruck, thus connecting Germany, Salzburg and eastern Austria with Innsbruck and the Brenner line to Italy and the Arlberg line to far western Austria. The line is part of the Line 1 of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). It is electrified at 15 kV, 16.7 Hz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wörgl Hauptbahnhof</span> Railway station in Tyrol, Austria

Wörgl Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station of Wörgl, a city in the Kufstein district of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, about 20 km from the state border with Bavaria. It is a major hub for regional and international rail travel, both passenger and freight.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenner railway station</span> Railway station in Italy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kufstein railway station</span> Railway station in Tyrol, Austria

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References

  1. Eisenbahnatlas Österreich (Austrian railway atlas). Schweers + Wall. 2010. pp. 56–57. ISBN   978-3-89494-138-3.
  2. "Neue Unterinntalbahn: Highspeed und höchste Sicherheit" (PDF) (Press release) (in German). ÖBB-Holding AG. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  3. Brenner Eisenbahn GmbH, ed. (October 2007). "Die neue Unterinntalbahn - Eisenbahntechnik auf höchstem Niveau" (PDF) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  4. "Die letzte Schiene ist verlegt". Tiroler Tageszeitung (in German). 16 December 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  5. Atlas, High-Speed Rail 2021 on the International Union of Railways (UIC) website.
  6. "Section 1 route map" (PDF) (in German). Brenner Eisenbahn GmbH. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  7. "Eisenbahnsicherungstechnik" (in German). ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  8. "Trassenauswahlverfahren für zweiten Abschnitt der neuen Unterinntalbahn abgeschlossen (Route selection process for the second section of the new Lower Inn Valley railway completed)" (in German). Austrian Federal Railways. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  9. "Section 2 route map" (in German). Brenner Eisenbahn GmbH. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2010.

47°25′43″N11°53′43″E / 47.42861°N 11.89528°E / 47.42861; 11.89528