Austria and Italy on Thursday celebrated a key milestone in the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel, a rail link aimed at reducing congestion in the eastern Alps.
The leaders of both countries travelled to the Brenner Pass, beneath which the 55-kilometre tunnel is being built, to mark the breakthrough of the exploratory tunnel.
The Brenner corridor is one of the most important north-south routes across the Alps, long plagued by road traffic bottlenecks.
A long-standing dispute over truck transit along the route, which runs from Germany through Austria to Italy, was set aside for the celebrations.
The project is regarded as a major European transport project and is expected to significantly shorten rail journeys between Munich and northern Italy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the development as an “important step,” according to Austria’s APA news agency. The tunnel, she said, would ease the road “bottleneck” across the Brenner Pass.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said that “the tunnel alone will not solve the transit problems,” urging “neighbourly solutions” for both road and rail.
For years, Austria’s Tyrol province has limited truck transit on certain days, creating long tailbacks in the German state of Bavaria.
Italy has since taken Austria to the European Court of Justice over the restrictions.
Breakthrough of the two main tunnels is scheduled for next year, with the rail line due to open in 2032.
However, the success of the project also hinges on Germany expanding its access routes in Bavaria.
Binding plans have yet to be finalized, with local opposition slowing progress and disputes over whether parts of the line should run underground.
Rail officials warn such changes would drive up costs and delay construction.
Adding to the uncertainty, Germany’s transport ministry signalled this week that funding for new rail projects will be limited in the coming years.
Tyrol’s Governor Anton Mattle, Italy’s Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, EU Tourism Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke and South Tyrol’s Governor Arno Kompatscher take part in the “Breakthrough Ceremony of the Exploratory Tunnel” for the Brenner Base Tunnel on the Austrian-Italian border. Johann Groder/EXPA/dpa
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker speaks at the “Breakthrough Ceremony of the Exploratory Tunnel” for the Brenner Base Tunnel on the Austrian-Italian border. Johann Groder/EXPA/dpa