The cross-border railway on the Brenner between Tyrol and Italy has been a huge construction site since Sunday evening. ÖBB is investing 15 million euros in extensive renovation measures. A 212 ton behemoth is also used (see video above).
“The fast conversion train – SUZ 500 for short – is a kind of rolling factory on rails that renews the track in an assembly line,” explains ÖBB spokesperson Christoph Gasser-Mair. Many work steps would be automated. “He removes the old rails, picks up the old sleepers, places new ones and lays the new rails again,” continues Gasser-Mair.
150 to 200 meters per hour
The SUZ has a weight of 212 tons and is 350 meters long, including the material wagon. In an hour’s time, the colossus lays about 150 to 200 meters of new track – depending on local conditions. “On the Brenner, the SUZ renewed about 840 meters of track in the area of the Patsch stop, replacing or moving 1,700 linear meters of rail and 1,400 sleepers,” says Gasser-Mair.
Locked until August 23
Until August 23, the route between Innsbruck’s main station and Brennero/Brenner station will be closed to all train traffic due to the work. During this period, 71 local trains and ten Eurocity trains per day will be used as track replacement services. Only for the Railjet between Innsbruck and Bolzano there is no alternative.
Source: Krone
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