Bözberg Rail Tunnel
South portal in 1875 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Bözbergtunnel |
| Line | Bözberg |
| Location | Aargau, Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 47°27′55″N 8°7′1″E / 47.46528°N 8.11694°E |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1875 |
| Closed | 2020 (rail tunnel) |
| Owner | Swiss Federal Railways, previous: Bötzbergbahn (BöB) |
| Operator | Swiss Federal Railways |
| Traffic | Rail |
| Character | Passenger and freight |
| Technical | |
| Length | 2,526 metres (1.570 mi) |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrified | Overhead catenary 15 kV AC 16 2/3 Hz |
The Bözberg Rail Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the Swiss canton of Aargau. It takes the Bözberg railway line of the Swiss Federal Railways under the Bözberg Pass between Effingen and Schinznach-Dorf. The original tunnel was opened during 1875; it is set to be closed to rail traffic during 2020-2021 following the commissioning of its replacement, after which it shall be converted and retained for service and rescue purposes in respect to its successor.
During March 2016, construction commenced on the new Bözberg Tunnel, which runs roughly parallel to its predecessor. It is a considerably wider and longer tunnel, being able to accommodate trains up to a height of 4 metres (13 ft). The reason for its construction is to better accommodate larger and heavier freight trains. The second Bözberg Rail Tunnel is scheduled to be opened during 2020.