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The Albis Tunnel is a ] in the ] and the ], Switzerland which opened in 1897. It crosses the ] and connects ] to Litti near ]. At a length of {{convert|3360|m|}},{{NoteTag|name=length}} it was the second longest railway tunnel of Switzerland at the time of its opening. As it is only single-track, it has been described as a bottleneck of railway traffic. The '''Albis Tunnel''' is a ] in the ] and the ], Switzerland which opened in 1897. It crosses the ] and connects ] to Litti near ]. At a length of {{convert|3360|m|}},{{NoteTag|name=length}} it was the second longest railway tunnel of Switzerland at the time of its opening. As it is only single-track, it has been described as a bottleneck of railway traffic.


==History== ==History==
===Planning=== ===Planning===
In the context of the construction of the ] and the ] by the ] (NOB) in the 1870s, there was a desire to connect the two lines with a branch running from ] to ], which would later become the ].<ref name="Stuber-2023-65"/> Originally the line was planned to only cross the ] range and then follow the ] in the open to Walterswil near Baar, leading to Zug.<ref name="Stuber-2023-65"/> However, due to the ], construction of NOB lines were put on hold.<ref name="Fischer">{{cite web |last1=Fischer |first1=Bruno |title=Alfred Escher, Georg Stoll und die Rekonstruktion der Nordostbahn |url=https://www.briefedition.alfred-escher.ch/kontexte/uberblickskommentare/Rekonstruktion_Nordostbahn |website=www.briefedition.alfred-escher.c |publisher=Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=de}}</ref> Only in 1890, after the ] had made the definite decision to construct a line Thalwil–Baar–Zug, the NOB returned to planning the connecting branch, and selected a tunnel through the Albis as the better option against the proposed open line through Walterswil.<ref name="Stuber-2023-65"/><ref name=NOB-1891>{{Cite report |title=Achtunddreissigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1890 |date= |doi=10.5169/seals-730465 |pages=3-11|volume=38 |language=de}}</ref> Since both the ] and a proposed (but later failed) line coming from ] were planning to connect to Zug through the same tunnel, there were demands to build the Albis tunnel as double-track, which was opposed by the NOB and ultimately rejected by the ] in favour of a certain and timely execution.<ref name="Stuber-2023-65"/><ref name=NOB-1893>{{Cite report |title=Vierzigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1892 |date=1893 |doi=10.5169/seals-730413 |pages=3-11 |volume=40 |language=de}}</ref> In the context of the construction of the ] and the ] by the ] (NOB) in the 1870s, there was a desire to connect the two lines with a branch running from ] to ], which would later become the ].<ref name="Stuber-2023-65">{{cite book |last1=Stuber |first1=Martin |title=Lebensadern: Zuger Eisenbahngeschichte(n) |date=2023 |publisher=Triner Media + Print |location=Schwyz |isbn=9783033102491 |chapter= Baar und Steinhausen: Lieber spät als nie|pages=65-96 |language=de-CH}}</ref> Originally the line was planned to only cross the ] range and then follow the ] in the open to Walterswil near Baar, leading to Zug.<ref name="Stuber-2023-65"/> However, due to the ], construction of NOB lines were put on hold.<ref name="Fischer">{{cite web |last1=Fischer |first1=Bruno |title=Alfred Escher, Georg Stoll und die Rekonstruktion der Nordostbahn |url=https://www.briefedition.alfred-escher.ch/kontexte/uberblickskommentare/Rekonstruktion_Nordostbahn |website=www.briefedition.alfred-escher.c |publisher=Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich |access-date=9 January 2025 |language=de}}</ref> Only in 1890, after the ] had made the definite decision to construct a line Thalwil–Baar–Zug, the NOB returned to planning the connecting branch, and selected a tunnel through the Albis as the better option against the proposed open line through Walterswil.<ref name="Stuber-2023-65"/><ref name=NOB-1891>{{Cite report |title=Achtunddreissigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1890 |date= |doi=10.5169/seals-730465 |pages=3-11|volume=38 |language=de}}</ref> Since both the ] and a proposed (but later failed) line coming from ] were planning to connect to Zug through the same tunnel, there were demands to build the Albis tunnel as double-track, which was opposed by the NOB and ultimately rejected by the ] in favour of a certain and timely execution.<ref name="Stuber-2023-65"/><ref name=NOB-1893>{{Cite report |title=Vierzigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1892 |date=1893 |doi=10.5169/seals-730413 |pages=3-11 |volume=40 |language=de}}</ref>


===Construction=== ===Construction===
[[File:Durchschlagsfeier Albistunnel Einladungskarte.jpg|thumb|left| [[File:Durchschlagsfeier Albistunnel Einladungskarte.jpg|thumb|left|
Invitation card to the breakthrough ceremony of the Albis Tunnel on 15 May 1894]] Invitation card to the breakthrough ceremony of the Albis Tunnel on 15 May 1894]]
From December 1891 to February 1892, the NOB began the construction of the tunnel under ],<ref name="Weber-1894">{{cite journal |last1=Weber |first1=Robert |title=Médailles suisses : frappées en 1893 et 1894 |journal=Société Suisse de Numismatique |date=1894-08-28 |volume=4 |page=217 |url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=snr-002%3A1894%3A4%3A%3A221&referrer=search#215 |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=de-CH,fr}}</ref><ref name="Zueblin-1898">{{cite journal |last1=Züblin |first1=Emil |title=Mitteilungen über den Bau der Linien Schaffhausen-Eglisau und Thalweil-Zug: Vortrag |journal=Schweizerische Bauzeitung |date=1898 |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=22-24 |doi=10.5169/seals-20781 |language=de-CH}}</ref> and around the same time, published the second invitation to tender for an "Albis Tunnel of 3400 m of length" with a proposed tender of roughly 3.5 million Swiss Franc.<ref name="SBZ-1891">{{cite journal |title=Bauausschreibung |url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=sbz-002:1891:17::522#1916 |access-date=6 January 2025 |journal=Schweizerische Bauzeitung |volume=18 |issue=24 |date=1891 |publisher=A. Waldner|language=de-CH}}</ref> In early 1892, the contract was given to the company Franz Lusser & Cie., which resumed work on the tunnel in April of the same year.<ref name="Weber-1894"/> Engineer Franz Vital Lusser had founded this company and amassed enough money for the security deposit required by the contract, which he had failed to procure when the NOB published the first invitation to tender in 1891.<ref name="Stuber-2023-161">{{cite book |last1=Stuber |first1=Martin |title=Lebensadern: Zuger Eisenbahngeschichte(n) |date=2023 |publisher=Triner Media + Print |location=Schwyz |isbn=9783033102491 |chapter= Zuger Spezialitäten – "Stadtbahn", Kollermühle, F. V. Lusser: Die Stadtbahn gab es schon 1902|pages=161-192|language=de-CH}}</ref> As an engineer, he had already been involved with the construction of the ] under ].<ref name="Gisler-Jauch-2009">{{cite web |last1=Gisler-Jauch |first1=Rolf |title=Franz Vital Lusser |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/031934/2009-07-29/ |website=Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz |publisher=Schweizerische Akademie der Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="R-1927">{{cite journal |last1=R. |first1=M. |title=Lusser, Franz Vital |journal=Schweizerische Bauzeitung |date=1927 |volume=90 |issue=18 |pages=236-237 |url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=sbz-002%3A1927%3A89%3A%3A3024#3061 |access-date=6 January 2025 |issn=0036-7524 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="Mathys-1955">{{cite book |last1=Mathys |first1=Ernst |title=Männer der Schiene |date=1955 |publisher=Kümmerly & Frey |location=Bern |pages=72-74 |edition=2nd |oclc=312224581 |language=de-CH}}</ref> Under him, the construction of the tunnel, executed from both ends, was able to progress at an average rate of 3 meters per day.<ref name="Zueblin-1898"/> Breakthrough of the ] was achieved on 8 May 1894 with an "official breakthrough" celebrated on 15 May 1894.<ref name="Weber-1894"/><ref name="Zueblin-1898"/> At convergence of the two sections built from either site, there was a deviation of 4–5 centimeters.<ref name="NOB-1895">{{cite report |title=Zweiundvierzigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1894 |date=1895 |pages=84-86 |doi=10.5169/seals-730496 |volume=42 |language=de-CH}}</ref> Construction of the walling was finished in August of the same year.<ref name="Zueblin-1898"/> Overall, the construction of the Albis Tunnel finished one year earlier than planned,<ref name="Stuber-2023-161"/><ref name="Odermatt-1940">{{cite book |last1=Odermatt |first1=Franz |title=Land und Volk der Urschweiz |date=1940 |location=Stans |pages=248-251 |oclc=1271108674 |language=de-CH}}</ref> despite it orignially being estimated to be the most time-consuming part of the Thalwil-Zug line.<ref name="NOB-1894">{{Cite report |title=Einundvierzigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1893 |date=1894 |pages=94-95 |doi=10.5169/seals-730463 |volume=41 |language=de-CH}}</ref> The tunnel opened to traffic along with the rest of the Thalwil–Zug line on 1 June 1897 and at that time, at a length of {{convert|3360|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=data-sbb-2017>{{Cite web |title=Tunnels |url=https://data.sbb.ch/explore/dataset/tunnel/table/?q=Zimmerbergtunnel |access-date=2024-10-25 |date=2017-12-01 |website=data.sbb.ch |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=waegli-2010-151>{{Cite book |title=Schienennetz Schweiz / Réseau ferré suisse|last1=Wägli |first1=Hans G. |last2=Jacobi |first2=Sébastien |publisher=AS-Verlag |year=2010 |isbn=9783909111749 |edition=3rd |location=Zurich |page=151|language=de-CH, fr}}</ref>, it was the second longest tunnel of Switzerland.<ref name="Stuber-2023-65">{{cite book |last1=Stuber |first1=Martin |title=Lebensadern: Zuger Eisenbahngeschichte(n) |date=2023 |publisher=Triner Media + Print |location=Schwyz |isbn=9783033102491 |chapter= Baar und Steinhausen: Lieber spät als nie|pages=65-96 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="Spitteler-1897">{{cite book |last1=Spitteler |first1=Carl |title=Der Gotthard |url= https://permalink.snl.ch/bib/sz991017981684003976 |access-date=4 January 2025 |page=25 |publisher=Verlag von J. Huber |date=1897 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="Bruder-1945">{{cite book |last1=Bruder |first1=Hans |title=Zürcher Taschenbuch |date=1945 |publisher=Gesellschaft zürcherischer Geschichtsfreunde |location=Zürich |page=242 |language=de-CH |chapter=Zürcher Chronik : vom 1. Juli 1943 bis 30. Juni 1944 |chapter-url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=zut-001%3A1945%3A65%3A%3A238 |access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref> From December 1891 to February 1892, the NOB began the construction of the tunnel under ],<ref name="Weber-1894">{{cite journal |last1=Weber |first1=Robert |title=Médailles suisses : frappées en 1893 et 1894 |journal=Société Suisse de Numismatique |date=1894-08-28 |volume=4 |page=217 |url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=snr-002%3A1894%3A4%3A%3A221&referrer=search#215 |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=de-CH,fr}}</ref><ref name="Zueblin-1898">{{cite journal |last1=Züblin |first1=Emil |title=Mitteilungen über den Bau der Linien Schaffhausen-Eglisau und Thalweil-Zug: Vortrag |journal=Schweizerische Bauzeitung |date=1898 |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=22-24 |doi=10.5169/seals-20781 |language=de-CH}}</ref> and around the same time, published the second invitation to tender for an "Albis Tunnel of 3400 m of length" with a proposed tender of roughly 3.5 million Swiss Franc.<ref name="SBZ-1891">{{cite journal |title=Bauausschreibung |url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=sbz-002:1891:17::522#1916 |access-date=6 January 2025 |journal=Schweizerische Bauzeitung |volume=18 |issue=24 |date=1891 |publisher=A. Waldner|language=de-CH}}</ref> In early 1892, the contract was given to the company Franz Lusser & Cie., which resumed work on the tunnel in April of the same year.<ref name="Weber-1894"/> Engineer Franz Vital Lusser had founded this company and amassed enough money for the security deposit required by the contract, which he had failed to procure when the NOB published the first invitation to tender in 1891.<ref name="Stuber-2023-161">{{cite book |last1=Stuber |first1=Martin |title=Lebensadern: Zuger Eisenbahngeschichte(n) |date=2023 |publisher=Triner Media + Print |location=Schwyz |isbn=9783033102491 |chapter= Zuger Spezialitäten – "Stadtbahn", Kollermühle, F. V. Lusser: Die Stadtbahn gab es schon 1902|pages=161-192|language=de-CH}}</ref> As an engineer, he had already been involved with the construction of the ] under ].<ref name="Gisler-Jauch-2009">{{cite web |last1=Gisler-Jauch |first1=Rolf |title=Franz Vital Lusser |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/031934/2009-07-29/ |website=Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz |publisher=Schweizerische Akademie der Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften |access-date=6 January 2025 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="R-1927">{{cite journal |last1=R. |first1=M. |title=Lusser, Franz Vital |journal=Schweizerische Bauzeitung |date=1927 |volume=90 |issue=18 |pages=236-237 |url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=sbz-002%3A1927%3A89%3A%3A3024#3061 |access-date=6 January 2025 |issn=0036-7524 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="Mathys-1955">{{cite book |last1=Mathys |first1=Ernst |title=Männer der Schiene |date=1955 |publisher=Kümmerly & Frey |location=Bern |pages=72-74 |edition=2nd |oclc=312224581 |language=de-CH}}</ref> Under him, the construction of the tunnel, executed from both ends, was able to progress at an average rate of 3 metres per day.<ref name="Zueblin-1898"/> Breakthrough of the ] was achieved on 8 May 1894 with an "official breakthrough" celebrated on 15 May 1894.<ref name="Weber-1894"/><ref name="Zueblin-1898"/> At convergence of the two sections built from either site, there was a deviation of 4–5 centimetres.<ref name="NOB-1895">{{cite report |title=Zweiundvierzigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1894 |date=1895 |pages=84-86 |doi=10.5169/seals-730496 |volume=42 |language=de-CH}}</ref> Construction of the walling was finished in August of the same year.<ref name="Zueblin-1898"/> Overall, the construction of the Albis Tunnel finished one year earlier than planned,<ref name="Stuber-2023-161"/><ref name="Odermatt-1940">{{cite book |last1=Odermatt |first1=Franz |title=Land und Volk der Urschweiz |date=1940 |location=Stans |pages=248-251 |oclc=1271108674 |language=de-CH}}</ref> despite it orignially being estimated to be the most time-consuming part of the Thalwil-Zug line.<ref name="NOB-1894">{{Cite report |title=Einundvierzigster Geschäftsbericht der Direktion der Schweizerischen Nordostbahngesellschaft an die Generalversammlung der Aktionäre umfassend das Jahr 1893 |date=1894 |pages=94-95 |doi=10.5169/seals-730463 |volume=41 |language=de-CH}}</ref> The tunnel opened to traffic along with the rest of the Thalwil–Zug line on 1 June 1897 and at that time, at a length of {{convert|3360|m|abbr=on}},<ref name=data-sbb-2017>{{Cite web |title=Tunnels |url=https://data.sbb.ch/explore/dataset/tunnel/table/?q=Zimmerbergtunnel |access-date=2024-10-25 |date=2017-12-01 |website=data.sbb.ch |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name=waegli-2010-151>{{Cite book |title=Schienennetz Schweiz / Réseau ferré suisse|last1=Wägli |first1=Hans G. |last2=Jacobi |first2=Sébastien |publisher=AS-Verlag |year=2010 |isbn=9783909111749 |edition=3rd |location=Zurich |page=151|language=de-CH, fr}}</ref> it was the second longest tunnel of Switzerland.<ref name="Stuber-2022">{{cite news |last1=Stuber |first1=Martin |title=Rückblick - Wie der Kanton Zug zum Eisenbahnknoten wurde |url=https://www.zugerzeitung.ch/zentralschweiz/zug/wie-der-kanton-zug-zum-eisenbahnknoten-wurde-ld.1245997 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Zuger Zeitung |publisher=] |date=21 August 2020 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="Spitteler-1897">{{cite book |last1=Spitteler |first1=Carl |title=Der Gotthard |url= https://permalink.snl.ch/bib/sz991017981684003976 |access-date=4 January 2025 |page=25 |publisher=Verlag von J. Huber |date=1897 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="Bruder-1945">{{cite book |last1=Bruder |first1=Hans |title=Zürcher Taschenbuch |date=1945 |publisher=Gesellschaft zürcherischer Geschichtsfreunde |location=Zürich |page=242 |language=de-CH |chapter=Zürcher Chronik : vom 1. Juli 1943 bis 30. Juni 1944 |chapter-url=https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=zut-001%3A1945%3A65%3A%3A238 |access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref>


==Operations== ==Operations==
The Albis Tunnel constitutes a single-track section on the Thalwil-Zug relation used by both local and inter-regional trains and has been described as a bottleneck of Swiss railway traffic as it prevents an expansion of traffic capacity.<ref name="Kaelin-2022">{{cite news |last1=Kälin |first1=Adi |title=Zimmerberg-Basistunnel: Viertlängster Bahntunnel der Schweiz |url=https://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/zimmerberg-basistunnel-viertlaengster-bahntunnel-der-schweiz-ld.1676037 |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |publisher=] |date=24 March 2022 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="zg">{{cite web |title=3 Kapazitätssteigerung Zug–Thalwil |url=https://zg.ch/de/mobilitaet-reisen/oeffentlicher-verkehr/zimmerbergbasistunnel |website=zg.ch |publisher=Staatskanzlei des Kantons Zug |access-date=8 January 2025 |language=de-CH}}</ref> This impacts routes leading into ], such as routes to ], as well as routes to ] in southern Switzerland.<ref name="Kaelin-2022"/><ref name="SBB-ZBT2">{{cite web |title=Zimmerberg-Basistunnel 2 {{!}} SBB |url=https://company.sbb.ch/de/ueber-die-sbb/projekte/deutschschweiz/region-zuerich/zuerich-zug-luzern-studie-zimmerberg-basistunnel-2.html |website=sbb.ch |publisher=] |access-date=8 January 2025 |language=de-CH}}</ref> Although proposals for the construction of a second tunnel parallel to the Albis Tunnels had been made,<ref name="Hotz-2011">{{cite news |last1=Hotz |first1=Stefan |title=Umstrittener Bahnausbau zwischen Zürich und Zug |url=https://www.nzz.ch/umstrittener_bahnausbau_zwischen_zuerich_und_zug-ld.985633 |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |publisher=] |date=4 February 2011 |language=de-CH}}</ref> they were dropped in favour of the planned ] (ZBT2),<ref name="Gilb-2019">{{cite news |last1=Gilb |first1=Christopher |title=Zimmerberg-Basistunnel: Politik und Wirtschaft fordern schnelle Umsetzung |url=https://www.zugerzeitung.ch/zentralschweiz/zug/zimmerberg-basistunnel-den-tag-nicht-vor-dem-abend-loben-ld.1089782 |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Zuger Zeitung |publisher=] |date=31 January 2019 |language=de-CH}}</ref> part of the Swiss railroad project STEP 2035, which would connect to the existing ] (ZBT1) in Thalwil and lead directly to Baar.<ref name="SBB-ZBT2"/> The Albis Tunnel constitutes a single-track section on the Thalwil-Zug relation used by both local and inter-regional trains and has been described as a bottleneck of Swiss railway traffic as it prevents an expansion of traffic capacity.<ref name="Kaelin-2022">{{cite news |last1=Kälin |first1=Adi |title=Zimmerberg-Basistunnel: Viertlängster Bahntunnel der Schweiz |url=https://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/zimmerberg-basistunnel-viertlaengster-bahntunnel-der-schweiz-ld.1676037 |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |publisher=] |date=24 March 2022 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="zg">{{cite web |title=3 Kapazitätssteigerung Zug–Thalwil |url=https://zg.ch/de/mobilitaet-reisen/oeffentlicher-verkehr/zimmerbergbasistunnel |website=zg.ch |publisher=Staatskanzlei des Kantons Zug |access-date=8 January 2025 |language=de-CH}}</ref> This impacts routes leading into ], such as routes to ], as well as routes to ] in southern Switzerland.<ref name="Kaelin-2022"/><ref name="SBB-ZBT2">{{cite web |title=Zimmerberg-Basistunnel 2 {{!}} SBB |url=https://company.sbb.ch/de/ueber-die-sbb/projekte/deutschschweiz/region-zuerich/zuerich-zug-luzern-studie-zimmerberg-basistunnel-2.html |website=sbb.ch |publisher=] |access-date=8 January 2025 |language=de-CH}}</ref> Although proposals for the construction of a second tunnel parallel to the Albis Tunnels had been made,<ref name="Hotz-2011">{{cite news |last1=Hotz |first1=Stefan |title=Umstrittener Bahnausbau zwischen Zürich und Zug |url=https://www.nzz.ch/umstrittener_bahnausbau_zwischen_zuerich_und_zug-ld.985633 |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |publisher=] |date=4 February 2011 |language=de-CH}}</ref><ref name="Baumann-2017">{{cite news |last1=Baumann |first1=Ruedi |title=SBB-Flaschenhals bei Sihlbrugg war wieder einmal verstopft |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sbb-flaschenhals-bei-sihlbrugg-war-wieder-einmal-verstopft-518880794653 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Tages-Anzeiger |publisher=] |date=10 January 2017 |language=de-CH}}</ref> they were dropped in favour of the planned ] (ZBT2),<ref name="Gilb-2019">{{cite news |last1=Gilb |first1=Christopher |title=Zimmerberg-Basistunnel: Politik und Wirtschaft fordern schnelle Umsetzung |url=https://www.zugerzeitung.ch/zentralschweiz/zug/zimmerberg-basistunnel-den-tag-nicht-vor-dem-abend-loben-ld.1089782 |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Zuger Zeitung |publisher=] |date=31 January 2019 |language=de-CH}}</ref> part of the Swiss railroad project STEP 2035, which would connect to the existing ] (ZBT1) in Thalwil and lead directly to Baar.<ref name="SBB-ZBT2"/>


==Notes== ==Notes==

Latest revision as of 07:09, 11 January 2025

Railway tunnel in Switzerland
Albis Tunnel
"Swiss-Express" train leaving the Albis Tunnel as seen from Sihlbrugg railway station"Swiss-Express" train leaving the Albis Tunnel as seen from Sihlbrugg railway station
Overview
Official nameGerman: Albistunnel
LineThalwil–Arth-Goldau railway
LocationZurich and Zug, Switzerland
Coordinates47°13′30″N 8°33′29″E / 47.2250°N 8.5580°E / 47.2250; 8.5580
StatusActive
SystemSwiss Federal Railways (SBB)
CrossesAlbis
StartNear Sihlbrugg railway station
EndLitti near Baar
Operation
ConstructedDecember 1891 – August 1894
OpenedJune 1, 1897 (1897-06-01)
OwnerSBB
OperatorSBB
TrafficTrain
CharacterPassenger and freight
Technical
Design engineerFranz Vital Lusser
Length3,360 metres (11,020 ft)
No. of tracksSingle
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrified15 kV/16.7 Hz AC
Grade12‰
Route map

The Albis Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the Canton of Zug and the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland which opened in 1897. It crosses the Albis and connects Sihlbrugg railway station to Litti near Baar. At a length of 3,360 metres (11,020 ft), it was the second longest railway tunnel of Switzerland at the time of its opening. As it is only single-track, it has been described as a bottleneck of railway traffic.

History

Planning

In the context of the construction of the Gotthard railway and the Lake Zurich left-bank railway line by the Swiss Northeastern Railway (NOB) in the 1870s, there was a desire to connect the two lines with a branch running from Thalwil to Zug, which would later become the Thalwil–Arth-Goldau railway line. Originally the line was planned to only cross the Zimmerberg range and then follow the Sihl valley in the open to Walterswil near Baar, leading to Zug. However, due to the NOB railway crisis, construction of NOB lines were put on hold. Only in 1890, after the Federal Assembly had made the definite decision to construct a line Thalwil–Baar–Zug, the NOB returned to planning the connecting branch, and selected a tunnel through the Albis as the better option against the proposed open line through Walterswil. Since both the Sihltal railway line and a proposed (but later failed) line coming from St. Gallen were planning to connect to Zug through the same tunnel, there were demands to build the Albis tunnel as double-track, which was opposed by the NOB and ultimately rejected by the Federal Council in favour of a certain and timely execution.

Construction

Invitation card to the breakthrough ceremony of the Albis Tunnel on 15 May 1894

From December 1891 to February 1892, the NOB began the construction of the tunnel under piecework, and around the same time, published the second invitation to tender for an "Albis Tunnel of 3400 m of length" with a proposed tender of roughly 3.5 million Swiss Franc. In early 1892, the contract was given to the company Franz Lusser & Cie., which resumed work on the tunnel in April of the same year. Engineer Franz Vital Lusser had founded this company and amassed enough money for the security deposit required by the contract, which he had failed to procure when the NOB published the first invitation to tender in 1891. As an engineer, he had already been involved with the construction of the Gotthard Tunnel under Louis Favre. Under him, the construction of the tunnel, executed from both ends, was able to progress at an average rate of 3 metres per day. Breakthrough of the pilot tunnel was achieved on 8 May 1894 with an "official breakthrough" celebrated on 15 May 1894. At convergence of the two sections built from either site, there was a deviation of 4–5 centimetres. Construction of the walling was finished in August of the same year. Overall, the construction of the Albis Tunnel finished one year earlier than planned, despite it orignially being estimated to be the most time-consuming part of the Thalwil-Zug line. The tunnel opened to traffic along with the rest of the Thalwil–Zug line on 1 June 1897 and at that time, at a length of 3,360 m (11,020 ft), it was the second longest tunnel of Switzerland.

Operations

The Albis Tunnel constitutes a single-track section on the Thalwil-Zug relation used by both local and inter-regional trains and has been described as a bottleneck of Swiss railway traffic as it prevents an expansion of traffic capacity. This impacts routes leading into Central Switzerland, such as routes to Lucerne, as well as routes to Ticino in southern Switzerland. Although proposals for the construction of a second tunnel parallel to the Albis Tunnels had been made, they were dropped in favour of the planned Phase 2 of the Zimmerberg Base Tunnel (ZBT2), part of the Swiss railroad project STEP 2035, which would connect to the existing Phase 1 (ZBT1) in Thalwil and lead directly to Baar.

Notes

  1. ^ The length given for this tunnel varies by source between 3358 m, 3359 m, and 3360 m. This article uses the length given by SBB.

References

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  14. Odermatt, Franz (1940). Land und Volk der Urschweiz (in Swiss High German). Stans. pp. 248–251. OCLC 1271108674.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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  26. Gilb, Christopher (31 January 2019). "Zimmerberg-Basistunnel: Politik und Wirtschaft fordern schnelle Umsetzung". Zuger Zeitung (in Swiss High German). CH Media. Retrieved 8 January 2025.

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