Brenner Base Tunnel project faces delays and increased costs

The Brenner Base Tunnel, a major European railway project connecting Austria and Italy, is now expected to be completed in 2034 rather than 2032. The estimated investment cost has risen from 10.5 billion to 11.7 billion euros.

According to Brenner Basistunnel SE, the delays and budget increases stem from the need to update railway system designs to meet modern technological standards and stricter safety requirements. Additionally, a geological reconnaissance tunnel will be repurposed into a permanent service tunnel to house technical installations.

In Germany, Deutsche Bahn (DB) has completed the preliminary planning for the Brenner North Access, a critical feeder line intended to link Munich to the Austrian border. This project aims to shift freight from road to rail and relieve existing capacity constraints. The German Federal Ministry of Transport has submitted the planning documents to the Bundestag for parliamentary review.