Mont Cenis Tunnel Nears Completion, Promising Faster Alpine Crossing and Freight Revolution

France and Italy are on the cusp of completing a significant engineering feat—the Mont Cenis Base Tunnel—a project poised to revolutionize rail travel and freight logistics between the two nations and across Europe. This ambitious endeavor, buried deep beneath the Alps, aims to drastically reduce journey times and shift a substantial volume of goods from road to rail, contributing to environmental sustainability.

The Tunnel Project

The Mont Cenis Base Tunnel is the centerpiece of the Mediterranean Corridor, a key component of the Trans-European Transport Network. Stretching 115 kilometers, it will consist of two parallel single-track railway tunnels, each 57.5 kilometers long. The design includes four access points, 204 safety cross-passages, and an integrated underground logistics network with ventilation shafts. Once operational, trains will traverse the Alps on a virtually flat gradient, eliminating the current speed and load limitations imposed by the mountainous terrain. The new tunnels will connect to existing rail infrastructure in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France, and Susa, Italy. Currently, over 3,300 workers are engaged in the construction, with a projected peak of 4,000. As of February this year, 29% of the French section had been excavated.

Revolutionizing Travel and Trade

The impact of the Mont Cenis Base Tunnel on passenger and freight transport is expected to be profound. For passengers, the journey between Paris and Milan, currently taking around seven hours, will be reduced to approximately four and a half hours. This significant time saving is expected to make train travel more competitive against air travel on this busy route.

However, the most substantial benefits are anticipated for freight logistics. The Alps currently necessitate a large portion of trade between northern and southern Europe to be transported by road, leading to environmental costs and congestion. The new tunnel is projected to remove 700,000 truck journeys from the roads annually, translating to an estimated reduction of 3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

A Long and Winding Road

The concept for this tunnel dates back to the 1990s, but the project has faced decades of delays due to political hurdles, particularly from Italy. A significant breakthrough occurred in 2021 with the finalization of contracts on the French side, unblocking the project. Despite this progress, the European Court of Auditors cautioned earlier this year that the initial goal of completion before 2030 is unlikely. The project’s promoter now points to 2033 as the target opening date for traffic.

Key Facts

Financials and Engineering

The estimated cost for this section of the corridor stands at €11.1 billion, a 30% increase from the initial 2015 estimate. Funding is shared among the European Union (40%), Italy (35%), and France (25%). The project is managed by TELT (Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin), a company jointly owned by the Italian and French states. The construction involves a consortium of major European companies, including Germany’s Herrenknecht, a leader in tunneling machinery.

Two primary excavation methods are being employed. For long stretches, massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) from Herrenknecht, measuring 180 meters in length and weighing 2,300 tons, are in use. For access tunnels and sections with complex geology, traditional drilling and blasting methods are utilized.

Challenges and Criticisms

The project is not without its challenges. The soaring costs, which have already exceeded initial projections and threaten further increases, are a significant concern, mirroring cost escalations in similar projects like the Brenner Base Tunnel.

Environmental impact is another critical issue. Environmental groups have voiced concerns for years about potential damage to the Alpine ecosystem, and some local springs have reportedly begun to dry up due to the ongoing works. Furthermore, the project has faced criticism regarding its future profitability, as both road and rail traffic volumes in the corridor were reportedly declining at the time of its approval.

Source: De Milán a París en cuatro horas: el megatúnel que Francia e Italia están construyendo bajo los Alpes, Xataka, https://www.xataka.com/movilidad/milan-a-paris-poco-cuatro-horas-megatunel-que-francia-e-italia-estan-construyendo-alpes