The idea of crossing the Alps by tunnel dates back to the 19th century. As early as 1867, when the Brenner railway was launched, there was a strong desire to replace the key north-south route with a more direct and efficient corridor. However, technical capabilities and initially also political will were lacking. By the 20th century, increasing pressure made the Brenner Corridor one of the busiest transport routes in Europe, particularly due to high truck traffic. The result: congested roads, pollution, accidents, and a heavy burden on local communities.
The existing Brenner railway could no longer meet the growing demands of freight and passenger transport. Its steep angles and tight curves were structural barriers to modern, high-capacity trains. As early as the 1980s, the first studies for a base tunnel were launched. The vision: a nearly level tunnel deep within the mountains, enabling fast and weather-independent transit through the Alps. But decades would pass before this vision came to life. It was not until 2004 that Austria and Italy founded the project company BBT SE. With the official groundbreaking in 2008, one of Europe's most ambitious tunnelling infrastructure projects was finally underway.
The BBT runs between Franzensfeste (Fortezza) in South Tyrol, Italy, and Tulfes near Innsbruck, Austria. It forms part of the TEN-T corridor from Berlin to Palermo. The project includes two single-track main tubes and a central exploratory tunnel, which serves both geological research and later maintenance and safety. In sections such as construction lot H53 Pfons–Brenner, work is carried out around the clock. This segment alone involves 25.2 kilometres of tunnel and 37 cross-passages, linked by over 2,500 metres of connecting shafts. By completion in 2032, an estimated 21 million cubic metres of material will be excavated, some of which will be used for concrete production and access roads. In places, the tunnel lies up to 1,700 metres beneath the surface, which is an immense challenge for workers, technology, and organisation.
Every day, hundreds of workers operate in up to three shifts underground. Access is via a 3.5-kilometre-long adit. Equipped with hard hats, reflective clothing, safety boots, headlamps, and personal transponders, they sink into the tunnel system. Within this vast network, blasting crews, formwork teams, machine operators, maintenance technicians, and logistics staff operate in perfect synchrony. The tunnelling site functions like a world of its own. Materials, machinery, fuel, concrete, and explosives must all be carefully coordinated and transported over long distances. This requires refined logistics and detailed tracking of all personnel and equipment (see also: Miner tracking).
Safety is not a side issue—it is the foundation of this project. Nowhere else are the risks as immediate as in tunnelling: high temperatures, explosives, large machinery, poor visibility, and the constant threat of fire demand the utmost caution. From the start, a comprehensive safety strategy was developed. At its heart is the principle: "See and be seen." Real-time localisation of all personnel is vital to ensure targeted responses in emergencies. A key technology here is RTLS (Real-Time Locating System), which enables precise tracking of people and machinery—even in dust, darkness, or smoke. In the Brenner Base Tunnel, an active RFID-based RTLS system is used to continuously monitor positions. This allows emergency teams to identify who is where at any time, saving precious seconds—and potentially lives. RTLS is central to implementing the "See and be seen" strategy, complementing other safety protocols.
A key figure in implementing these systems is Dr. Michael Halwachs. The PhD safety expert began his career in mining, where he gained early insights into occupational safety. Later, he served in a fire brigade and developed a deep understanding of emergency response. Today, he is the Corporate Health and Safety Manager for tunnelling projects at the PORR Group. He also leads the "Health and Safety in Works" working group of the International Tunnelling Association and the Transport Infrastructure section of the Austrian Fire Brigade Association.
At the BBT, his responsibilities include overarching safety supervision, fire protection, and emergency management. For Halwachs, prevention is key: regular training, reliable equipment, and clearly defined procedures. He praises the Identec Solutions transponders, which have consistently performed well in drills and safety exercises.
Inside the tunnel, rescue chambers or safe harbours offer temporary shelter for multiple people for up to 48 hours. Equipped with independent ventilation, emergency power, and communication systems, these chambers are vital for survival in critical situations. Transponder-based registration shows whether workers are inside, giving crisis managers a clearer overview and enabling targeted evacuation planning.
The digital localisation of personnel is a cornerstone of the safety strategy. The Identec Solutions system, based on ISO/IEC 24730, tracks every individual in real time. Workers wear transponders that continuously transmit location data to tunnel receivers, which forward it to a central control centre. In the event of an accident or evacuation, responders immediately know who is where, enabling faster and more effective rescue operations.
This system replaces outdated name lists or manual check-in methods and offers maximum transparency and safety. Crucially, communication must work under all circumstances. That’s why the BBT uses a redundant network of technologies: GSM, TETRA digital radio, 70cm analogue radio, and WLAN. This ensures continuous information flow—even if one system fails—between site managers, workers, emergency teams, and crisis coordinators. These systems are regularly stress-tested in emergency drills simulating fires, accidents, and evacuations.
Major projects like the Brenner Base Tunnel are often described in terms of engineering data, schedules, and budgets. But their real value lies in the way they change people’s lives, both along the construction corridor and beyond.
For decades, the Brenner route has been one of the busiest Alpine crossings in Europe. Up to 2,500 trucks per direction use the motorway daily, causing noise, emissions, fine dust, and vibrations that significantly lower the quality of life for residents in Tyrol and South Tyrol. Towns like Innsbruck, Sterzing, or Matrei am Brenner are deeply familiar with the feeling of being overrun by traffic.
The BBT aims to change this. Its core goal is to shift freight from road to rail. The tunnel enables a much higher volume of goods to be transported underground, quietly, emission-free, and efficiently. What disappears from the surface is now handled through modern tunnelling solutions beneath it, offering major relief to communities and the environment.
A quieter, cleaner Alpine region is a tangible goal of the project. By shifting traffic, towns become more attractive to residents, tourists, and investors. Small municipalities along the Brenner axis, many of which have faced depopulation, now see new opportunities: better access to regional hubs, less exposure to transit traffic, more space for development. Combined with modern infrastructure and a European outlook, a renewed environment is emerging where families, businesses, and communities can thrive.
The Brenner Base Tunnel is also a symbol of European cooperation. Austria and Italy agreed on common objectives, aligned standards, and formed a joint project company. This cross-border coordination shows that Europe is not just a political concept but a practical reality.
The tunnel is part of the larger Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor linking Berlin and Palermo. In the near future, travellers may board a high-speed train in Munich and reach Rome or Naples by early afternoon — eco-friendly, without transfers. Mobility is being redefined: borderless, sustainable, fast, and accessible.
A project of this scale requires public support. From the outset, BBT SE has promoted active communication, citizen information, site tours, and local involvement. Concerns are addressed, questions answered, adjustments made. This openness has significantly contributed to widespread acceptance. Criticism remains about construction time, temporary nuisances, or landscape impact, but ongoing dialogue and compromise have mitigated many objections.
The tunnel also creates new professional opportunities. Both construction and later operations attract international specialists while supporting local training and employment. Engineers, geologists, safety professionals, machine operators, paramedics, and logistics experts are all essential to the project. Collaboration with universities and global firms fosters innovation in the region. What is developed for this tunnel, especially in tunnelling safety and tracking, could soon be used across Europe.
By 2032, when high-speed trains travel beneath the Alps at 250 km/h, it will not only relieve highways and the environment. It will also prove that bold investment in technology and safety pays off long-term.
The Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) is far more than a construction project—it exemplifies the shift toward safe, sustainable, and European-integrated infrastructure. When completed in 2032, it will be the longest railway tunnel in the world and a flagship of engineering and social progress.
At the heart of this achievement is safety: modern tracking and communication systems, constant training, and clearly defined procedures uphold the highest standards in tunnelling. The integration of real-time localisation and redundant networks shows how digital innovation can protect lives, even under extreme conditions.
Simultaneously, the tunnel creates real-world benefits for people and nature. Moving freight underground reduces emissions, noise, and stress along the corridor. Livable space is regained, and regional development is revitalised.
The BBT symbolises cross-border cooperation and a new culture of mobility—efficient, future-proof, and inclusive. Through transparency, participation, and local value creation, a technical megaproject has become a shared vision for the future. The Brenner Base Tunnel proves: with foresight, teamwork, and technology, even the most challenging tunnelling environments can yield lasting infrastructure for generations to come.
Delve deeper into one of our core topics: Miner safety
TEN-T: Trans-European Transport Network
The TEN-T is an EU-wide transport network that connects important infrastructure such as railways, roads, and ports. It aims to improve cross-border passenger and freight transport. The Brenner Base Tunnel is a key TEN-T project within the Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor.
Transponder: Electronic device for position determination according to the RTLS standard
Transponders compliant with the RTLS (Real-Time Locating System) standard send signals for the real-time localisation of people or objects. Devices from Identec Solutions enable precise tracking, for example, in tunnels or industrial facilities, and are often equipped with sensors, LEDs, and long-life batteries.
TETRA: Digital radio network for emergency response organisations (according to ETSI)
TETRA is a digital radio standard developed by ETSI for authorities and organisations with security-related tasks. It offers encrypted voice and data communication, group calls, and direct device-to-device connections, even without network coverage.
GSM network: Standard for mobile communication (according to GSMA)
GSM is a global mobile communication standard for digital voice and data services. The GSMA coordinates its development and ensures global interoperability. GSM forms the basis of mobile networks in over 200 countries.
Rescue Chamber: Secure shelter in tunnel construction
Rescue chambers are protected spaces in tunnels that provide temporary protection from smoke and heat in emergencies. They are equipped with communication technology and comply with the safety standards of the ITA-AITES (International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association).
References:
(1) Brenner Base Tunnel: https://www.bbt-se.com/
(2) ITA-AITES - Safety in tunnelling: https://about.ita-aites.org/
(3) GSM Association Basics: https://www.gsma.com/
(4) ETSI TETRA-Digital Radio Standards: https://www.etsi.org/technologies/tetra
(5) Identec Solutions: https://www.identecsolutions.com/