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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 2 (June 1, 1929.)

World-famed Tunnels

page 39

World-famed Tunnels.

Italian railway operation includes the negotiation of many tunnel sections, especially in the northern portion of the government railway system. Tunnels like the Simplon, the St. Gothard and the Mt. Cenis are world famous. Now their number is to be added to by the construction, at present proceeding, of an 11-mile long tunnel, piercing the heart of the Apennine Mountains.

The new tunnel is almost equal in length to the Simplon, and forms part of the new direct railway route between Bologna and Florence which, it is anticipated, will be opened early in 1931. The precise length of this engineering wonder is 11 miles, 626 yards. The method of construction followed is to drill the tunnel from each side of the Apennine Mountains, north and south, and also through two intermediate vertical shafts. The new Bologna-Florence route is a trifle over sixty miles in length, and will supersede the existing 81-mile route between the two cities. At present three hours are occupied on the run throughout owing to the steep grades. Electric trains will travel over the new route in ninety minutes. In all, the new Bologna-Florence line has thirty tunnels and 41 bridges. Apart from the Apennine tunnel itself, there are the Monte Adone tunnel (4 1/2 miles) and the Setta tunnel (2 miles) encountered en route. On completion of the new Bologna-Florence electric railway, and the conversion to electricity of the Florence-Rome steam route, direct and rapid train service, serving the whole of Central Italy, will be introduced.

Electrification In Switzerland. A fast passenger train on the st. gothard railway.

Electrification In Switzerland.
A fast passenger train on the st. gothard railway.