Karawanks Tunnel

The Karawanks Tunnel extends 7,976 meters beneath the Alps, connecting the Austrian region of Carinthia with the Slovenian municipality of Jesenice through a single-track railway system.

Construction teams completed the tunnel in 1906, marking a significant advancement in railway infrastructure between Austria and the port of Trieste during the Austro-Hungarian Empire period.

The tunnel stands as a registered cultural heritage site in Slovenia, representing early 20th-century engineering and the industrial development of Central European railway networks.

Current renovation work includes converting the tunnel to single-track operation, adding emergency rescue spaces, and implementing new drainage systems with a budget of 115 million euros.

The tunnel functions as both the fourth longest railway passage in Austria and the longest railway tunnel in Slovenia, serving up to 80 trains each day.

Location: Municipality of Jesenice

Inception: October 1, 1906

Official opening: 1906

Length: 7,976 m

Part of: Austria–Slovenia border

GPS coordinates: 46.52070,14.02570

Latest update: September 24, 2025 10:23