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Karlsruhe–Basel high-speed railway

Karlsruhe–Basel high speed railway
Overview
Native name Ausbau- und Neubaustrecke Karlsruhe–Basel
Locale Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Termini Karlsruhe Hbf
Basel Bad Bf
Line number
  • 4280 (high-speed line)
  • 4000 (original line)
Technical
Line length 182 km (113 mi)
Number of tracks 2 continuous
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 15 kV/16.7 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (maximum)
Route number 702
Route map
from Stuttgart/Mannheim
72.9 Karlsruhe Hbf
Rhine Valley Railway to Rastatt
Rhine Railway to Rastatt
Rastatt Tunnel (4270 m)
Rhine Valley Railway from Rastatt
101.3 Rastatt Süd (junction)
105.3 Baden-Baden
to Strasbourg
145.5 Offenburg
146.1 Offenburg Süd (junction)
Black Forest Railway to Donaueschingen
181.0 Kenzingen
Rhine Valley Railway to Freiburg (Breisgau)
Mengen Tunnel (1956 m, planned)
Rhine Valley Railway from Freiburg (Breisgau)
231.8 Buggingen (station+junction)
242.7 Schliengen Nord (junction)
Rhine Valley Railway to Basel
245.4
Katzenberg Tunnel (9385 m)
254.7
259.4 Rhine Valley Railway from Offenburg
264.3
265.3
Haltingen km change
267.6 Weil am Rhein
Basel Bad Rbf
267.6 Germany – Switzerland border
270.7 Basel Bad Bf
to Luzern/Zürich
Source: German railway atlas

The Karlsruhe–Basel high speed railway (Ausbau- und Neubaustrecke Karlsruhe–Basel, literally "Upgraded and new line Karlsruhe–Basel") is a new line being built on the route of the Mannheim–Karlsruhe–Basel railway (Rhine Valley Railway). As a result of the project, the railway through the Rhine Valley is being upgraded to four continuous tracks and its operational efficiency will be increased as a result of the segregation of the various transport flows. The travel time for passenger services between Karlsruhe and Basel is to be shortened by 31 minutes. The project forms part of the RotterdamGenoa corridor and part of it is also part of the Main line for Europe (Magistrale für Europa in German and Magistrale européenne in French; ParisBudapest). In September 2010, it was forecast to be completed in 2020.

Large parts of the line runs next to the existing Rhine Valley Railway. The planning of the line has been carried out progressively since the mid-1980s and the first section of the line between Rastatt Süd and Offenburg, was placed in operation in 1993. While several sections have been opened others are under construction or not started. The main components of the projects include the Rastatt Tunnel, the Katzenberg Tunnel and a western bypass of Freiburg for freight.

The date of the completion of the overall project is uncertain. The Federal Government considers a completion by 2030 possible. Planning services for sections 7.2. to 7.4 have been procured on the basis that it will be completed by the end of 2042.

The planned total cost is €6.172 billion (as of April 2013). Until the end of 2014, €2.27 billion had been spent on it. Deutsche Bahn estimated the total cost in 2015 as being €7.1 billion.

Between Karlsruhe and Kenzingen, the route runs closely parallel with the existing Rhine Valley Railway. In the area of Freiburg, between Kenzingen and Buggingen (planning section 8), it will run next to the A 5 as a new bypass of Freiburg. This section, which is designed to be operated at 160 km/h, is to be used in future by freight trains. A dense population and a reduction in the impact of freight transport were the key reasons for choosing this option. The existing line in this area, running through Freiburg, is to be upgraded for a running speed of 200 km/h and will be used by all passenger trains.


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Wikipedia

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