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Arlberg railway

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The Arlberg Railway (German: Arlbergbahn), which connects the Austrian cities Innsbruck and Bludenz, is Austria's only east-west mountain railway. It is one of the highest standard gauge railways in Europe and the second highest in Austria, after the Brenner. The 136.7 km line is a highly problematic mountain railway, in part because it is threatened by avalanches, mudslides, rockfalls and floods.[1] It is operated by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and frequented by international trains, including the Orient Express.[2]

Arlberg Railway
An ÖBB train on the Arlberg Railway in 2007 near Pians village west of Landeck
Overview
Native nameArlbergbahn
StatusOperational
OwnerAustrian Federal Railways
Line number101 05
LocaleTyrol
Vorarlberg
Termini
Stations31
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Passenger/Freight rail
Intercity rail, Regional rail, Commuter rail
Route number400
Operator(s)Austrian Federal Railways
History
OpenedStages between 1883 and 1884
Technical
Line length136.7 km (84.9 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track
(Innsbruck–Ötztal,
Abzw Schönwies 1–Landeck-Zams,
Abzw Flirsch 1–Abzw Langen 1)
Single track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Minimum radiusEast ramp: 300 m
West ramp: 242 m
Electrification15 kV/16,7 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Maximum inclineEast ramp: 2.6 %
West ramp: 3.4 %
Route map

Legend
km
elev
from Kufstein
-0.434
 Innsbruck Hbf
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5
582 m (1,909 ft)
Brenner Railway to Bolzano/Bozen (“Konzert curve”)
Innsbruck Tramway, Stubaitalbahn
1.325
 Innsbruck West
S1 S2 S4 S5
583 m (1,913 ft)
Mittenwald Railway to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
A12-AT.svg A 12 Inntalautobahn
6.910
 Völs
S1 S2 S4
584 m (1,916 ft)
10.442
 Kematen i. T.
S1 S2 S4
593 m (1,946 ft)
 Unterperfuss
14.247
 Zirl
S1 S2 S4
596 m (1,955 ft)
16.911
 Inzing
S1 S2
601 m (1,972 ft)
19.163
 Hatting
S1 S2
605 m (1,985 ft)
20.370
Üst (crossover) Zirl 2
21.412
 Flaurling
S1 S2
609 m (1,998 ft)
25,000
25,085
Change of chainage (-85 m), start of relocated line
25,545
 Oberhofen im Inntal
S1 S2
620 m (2,030 ft)
End of relocated line
26.800
 Telfs-Pfaffenhofen
S1 S2
623 m (2,044 ft)
31.056
 Rietz
S1 S2
635 m (2,083 ft)
34.647
 Stams
S1 S2
639 m (2,096 ft)
36.223
 Mötz
S1 S2
644 m (2,113 ft)
38.223
 Silz
S1 S2
648 m (2,126 ft)
42.458
 Haiming
S1 S2
669 m (2,195 ft)
45.420
 Ötztal
S1 S2
692 m (2,270 ft)
46.152
46.320
Change of chainage (-168 m)
47.200
Ötztaler bridge
B171-AT.svg B 171 Tiroler Straße
50.056
 Roppen
S1 S2
706 m (2,316 ft)
54.698
 Imst-Pitztal
S1 S2
716 m (2,349 ft)
L16-AT.svg L 16 Pitztaler Straße
59.070
 Imsterberg
S1 S2
724 m (2,375 ft)
63.015
 Schönwies
S1 S2
736 m (2,415 ft)
65.570
 Works siding
65.780
65.891
Change of chainage (-111 m)
65.911
 Abzw Schönwies 1
Start of relocated line
66.550
Kronburg tunnel (330 m)
68.3
B180-AT.svg B 180 Reschenstraße
68.580
Zammer tunnel (2335 m) eastern portal
70.980
 Zams
768 m (2,520 ft)
Zammer tunnel western portal
End of relocated line
71.837
 Landeck-Zams
S1 S2
776 m (2,546 ft)
Former Reschen railway to Mals
72.150
Connection to Firma Donauchemie AG
72.406
72.650
Change of chainage (-244 m)
73.404
Inn (L 188 m / H 25 m)
73.800
 Landeck Perfuchs
816 m (2,677 ft)
76.447
Zappelbach bridge (L 34 m / H 11,2 m)
77.981
 Pians
911 m (2,989 ft)
78.277
Ganderbach bridge (L 22 m / H 14,8 m)
78.918
Mayenthal bridge (L 53 m / H 15,0 m)
79.495
Burgfried bridge (L 72 m / H 10,0 m)
79.680
Wolfsgruberbach bridge (L 50 m / H 14,3 m)
79.949
 Wiesberg
953 m (3,127 ft)
80.253
Trisanna Bridge (L 207 m / H 87,4 m)
80.486
Weinzierl tunnel (212 m)
80.700
Start of relocated line
80.810
Moltertobel tunnel (1643 m)
82.308
82.200
Change of chainage (+108 m)
82.500
End of relocated line
82.496
Geigertobel bridge (L 81 m / H 11,5 m)
83.073
 Strengen
1,027 m (3,369 ft)
85.114
Süßwald bridge (L 59 m / H 11,0 m)
85.308
Klausbach aqueduct (20 m)
87.274
 Flirsch
1,122 m (3,681 ft)
87.564
88.055
Rosanna bridge I (L 28 m / H 7,9 m)
Rosanna bridge II (L 56 m / H 8,1 m)
S16-AT.svg S 16 Arlbergschnellstraße
88.483
Avalanche gallery (33 m)
90.150
 Flirsch 1 junction
Start of relocated line
90.176
 Schnann
(old)
90.420
 Schnann
1,162 m (3,812 ft)
91.028
Innere Maienbach gallery (354 m)
91.363
 Siding
ÖBB-substation
91.528
Rosanna bridge III
92.330
Apres tunnel (189 m)
93.334
 Pettneu
1,193 m (3,914 ft)
93.476
 Pettneu
(old)
1,196 m (3,924 ft)
End of relocated line
93.767
 Üst Flirsch 2
94.275
Vadisen gallery (579 m)
Start of new line
Rosanna bridge IV
96.271
 St. Jakob
1,228 m (4,029 ft)
97.357
Wolfsgruben tunnel (1743 m), eastern portal
97.698
97.923
Rosanna bridge IV
Rosanna bridge V
99.100
Wolfsgruben tunnel, western portal
99.360
 St. Anton am Arlberg
1,309 m (4,295 ft)
99.590
 St. Anton am Arlberg
(old)
1,303 m (4,275 ft)
99.500
Arlberg tunnel (10.648 m), new eastern portal
100.127
Arlberg tunnel (formerly 10.250 m), old eastern portal
100.600
100.828
Change of chainage (-228 m)
End of new line
104.241
Apex of the Arlberg railway
1,311 m (4,301 ft)
107.622
Üst St. Anton 3
Tyrol
Vorarlberg
110.377
Arlberg tunnel, western portal
110.480
 Alfenz bridge (L 52 m / H 17,2 m)
110.715
 Langen am Arlberg
1,217 m (3,993 ft)
Start of relocated line
111.054
Blisadona tunnel (2411 m) eastern portal
111.120
Simastobel tunnel (140 m)
111.670
Großtobel tunnel (505 m)
112.464
Bridge (L 62 m / H 8,4 m)
112.663
Kleines Lawinendach (34 m)
112.744
Bridge (L 32 m /H 6,7 m)
112.934
 Abzw Langen 1
112.973
Wälditobel bridge (L 59 m / H 35 m)
113.031
 Klösterle
1,157 m (3,796 ft)
113.100
Connection to proposed tunnel extension
113.465
Blisadona tunnel, western portal
113.547
113.463
Change of chainage (+84 m), end of relocated line
113.604
Great avalanche shelter (510 m)
114.113
In der Hose avalanche shelter (53 m)
114.166
Avalanche shelter III (163 m)
114.200
Start of relocated line
114.374
Wildentobel tunnel (1158 m)
114.583
Wildentobel aqueduct (15 m)
115.452
Spreubach bridge
115.600
End of relocated line
116.074
 Wald am Arlberg
(formerly Dannöfen, closed in 1999)
1,074 m (3,524 ft)
116.630
Glongtobel bridge
117.995
Stelzitobel bridge (L 28 m / H 6,0 m)
118.342
Radonatobel bridge (L 80 m / H 21,0 m)
119.192
Bridge (L 23 m / H 6,1 m)
119.279
Mühltobel avalanche shelter (91 m)
119.531
Avalanche shelter IV (144 m)
119.692
Gipsbruchtobel avalanche shelter (35 m)
119.944
Avalanche shelter V (22 m)
121.253
 Dalaas
(closed in 1999)
932 m (3,058 ft)
121.563
Höllentobel bridge (L 96 m / H 24,2 m)
121.920
Röcken tunnel (68 m)
122.420
Schmiedtobel tunnel (94 m)
122.654
Schmiedtobel bridge (L 120 m / H 55,8 m)
122.954
Engelwand tunnel (280 m)
123.349
Engelwand avalanche shelter (31 m)
123.432
Brunntobel bridge (L 74 m / H 24,6 m)
123.722
Engelwäldchen tunnel (209 m)
124.856
Fünffingertobel gallery (32 m)
124.888
Fünffingertobel tunnel (78 m)
125.177
 Hintergasse
(closed in 1999)
824 m (2,703 ft)
125.666
Schanatobel bridge (L 70 m / H 18,8 m)
125.749
Böcktöbele avalanche shelter (36 m)
126.425
Pfaffentobel tunnel (97 m)
126.684
Plattentobel tunnel (162 m)
126.881
Rüfe viaduct (L 65 m / H 7,3 m)
127.970
Avalanche shelter VI (139 m)
127.109
Mason tunnel (147 m)
127.310
Arch (31,8 m)
127.528
Masonbach bridge
128.168
Mühltobel aqueduct (20 m)
129.543
 Braz
(closed in 1999)
705 m (2,313 ft)
132.685
 Bings
614 m (2,014 ft)
Montafoner railway from Schruns
136.286
 Bludenz S1 S4
559 m (1,834 ft)
Vorarlberg Railway to Feldkirch, Lindau

History and construction

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Arlberg railway tunnel construction (Western mouth)

As early as 1842 a railway over the Arlberg Pass was under discussion, as the British sought a rail connection for traffic from England to Egypt.[3] Two years later, in 1847, Carl Ganahl - a textile industrialist from Feldkirch - decided to privately support construction of the railway, despite the many technical challenges involved. On the other hand, the opening of the Semmering Railway in 1854 showed that mountain railways were basically possible and feasible. Trade Minister Anton Freiherr von Banhans presented on March 22, 1872, at the Chamber of Deputies a draft law on the execution of the Arlberg railway at government expense for a total amount of 42 million florins. In 1879 the protagonists of the Arlbergbahn with the intended 10,216 m long summit tunnel were successful. The submitted project had won confidence by the progress in the Gotthard Tunnel.[4] Julius Lott was appointed planning director of the Arlbergbahn.[5]

The construction of the Arlberg Railway started on June 20, 1880, and proceeded at a faster pace than planned. Completion was originally not expected until the autumn of 1885, but already by May 29, 1883, the valley route from Innsbruck to Landeck in Tyrol was put into service.[6][page needed] On September 21, 1884, the entire stretch of the mountain railway was completed, including the then single-track, 10.22 kilometres (6.35 miles) long Arlbergtunnel.[7] The construction claimed 92 lives. The costs were totaled 38,165,282 crowns. The Arlberg tunnel rises from St. Anton on a length of approximately 4 km with 2 ‰. The highest point is at 1310.926 m in kilometer 104.241 m. Then it falls to Langen am Arlberg at 15 ‰.[8]

Operation

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The transalpine Arlberg Railway opened up a completely new connection between Lake Constance and the Adriatic Sea. Traffic increased so rapidly that already by July 15, 1885, a second track through the tunnel was opened, as had been planned since the beginning of the project. The most renowned train on the Arlberg route was the Orient Express, from London to Bucharest, which had only first-class compartments and parlors.

Right from the beginning, the use of steam locomotives on the Arlberg led to serious problems: Passengers and crews were exposed to the unhealthy effects of sulfurous acid, which condensed from the steam in the tunnel.[9] Grade slopes of up to 3.4% on the western ramp (Kloster Valley) and 2.6% on the eastern ramp caused traction troubles for the locomotives. Finally, in 1924, this problem was eliminated with the completion of electrification of the tunnel, followed by the ramp sections in 1925. This electrification of the railway was carried out with a 15 kV, 16.7 Hertz system, allowing heavy trains to be pulled over the route once the tracks and supporting structures, including the Trisanna bridge in 1964, had been upgraded for the increased axle weights.

Today, traffic through the Arlberg railway tunnel has increased considerably, despite competition from road transport through the Arlberg Road Tunnel. This has made it necessary to widen the approach ramps for double tracks. Many long-distance, high-speed EuroCity (Transalpin) and Railjet trains ply the route from Vienna to Vorarlberg over the Arlberg. On the occasion of the World Ski Championships in 2001, the railway station of St. Anton on the eastern side of the Arlberg Tunnel was relocated from the town centre to a new site on the north side of the valley. This required the Arlberg tunnel be lengthened to 10650 m and the construction of the new Wolfsgruben tunnel.[10]

Beginning with 2020, the stretch of track between Landeck-Zams and Ötztal will be selectively double-tracked, to increase capacity and improve the frequency of local services. The program, which was announced in 2018, will likely be completed by 2025, and was chosen over the more expensive full double-tracking plans. The first works are scheduled to take place between 19 and 21 September 2020, during which services will be disrupted.[11]

  •  
    St. Anton railway station since 2001; view ist directed eastwards to the Stanzer Valley
  •  
    Trisanna bridge (87 m high) and Castle Wiesberg
  •  
    Zammer tunnel near Landeck (eastern mouth)
  •  
    Old Inn bridge in Landeck
  •  
    Station Langen am Arlberg with western mouth of the Arlbergtunnel 1894

Locomotives

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Steam locomotives

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From the universal locomotive, kkStB Class 73 with an operating weight of 55.1 tons, 436 pieces were ordered.[12] Thanks to its capacity of 700 PS they could transport on the level 1,650 tons at 30 km/h, on a slope of 10 ‰ a weight of 580 t at 15 km/h and on a slope of 25 ‰ 220 t, also at 15 km/h. They were mainly used for freight traffic.[13]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arlberg railway.

References

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  1. ^ Bern, Peter Hug. "Arlberg | eLexikon | Geographie - Oesterreich-Ungarn - Gebirge etc". Peter-hug.ch (in German). Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Die Arlbergbahn". Alpenbahnen.net (in German). Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  3. ^ "Der Bau der Arlbergbahn 1/2 – Die Arlbergbahn". Arlbergbahn.at (in German). Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  4. ^ Arlberg railway at Zeno.org. Article by: Viktor von Röll (ed.): Enzyklopädie des Eisenbahnwesens (Encyclopaedia of the Railway), 2nd edition, 1912–1923, Vol. 1, p. 265–272
  5. ^ "die Arlberg-Bahn". Themenwegschnann.at (in German). Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  6. ^ Schuchter, Bernd (2017). Gebrauchsanweisung für Tirol. ISBN 978-3-492-97754-8.
  7. ^ "125 Jahre Arlbergbahn". Bahnerlebnis-club.de (in German). Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "Arlbergtunnel (search results)". Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  9. ^ Rebenklauber, Arno (1984). "Geschichtliche Bildreihe, 100 Jahre Arlbergbahn (1884 – 1984) (3500121)" (PDF). Vobs.at. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "Sankt Anton am Arlberg". Bahnbilderunterwegs.jimdo.com (in German). Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  11. ^ "Auch Ausbau auf Teilstrecken bringt viel" [Expansion on partial routes also brings a lot]. Tirol.orf.at (in German). October 24, 2018.
  12. ^ "06 - Modellbahn-Forum :: Micro Metakit KKStB 73 - kkArlbergbahn BF IV". Drehscheibe-online.de. Retrieved October 28, 2017.[user-generated source]
  13. ^ Kirchner, Michael. "ÖBB 55 (kkStB 73 / BBÖ 73 / DRB 55.57–58 /...)". Bahnspezl.de. Retrieved October 28, 2017.

47°15′48″N 11°24′04″E / 47.2633°N 11.4010°E / 47.2633; 11.4010

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