Fréjus Rail Tunnel, railway tunnel
The Fréjus Rail Tunnel is an international railway tunnel connecting France and Italy beneath the Alps. The passage runs straight through the mountain to link rail networks on both sides of the border.
The tunnel was built in the 1870s as a major engineering achievement for crossing the Alps. It enabled the first direct rail link between France and Italy across the mountain barrier.
The tunnel is part of an active railway line used by trains daily and cannot be crossed on foot. Visitors can best view it from a passing train or see the entrance portals at the access points in Modane and Bardonecchia.
When completed, this tunnel was one of the longest in the world and a milestone for 19th-century Alpine crossings. The structure showcased the capabilities of modern tunneling technology at that time.
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