Beskydy Tunnel
{{Short description|Railway tunnel in the Carpathians, Ukraine}}
{{Infobox tunnel|name=Beskydy Tunnel|image=Ukraine-Kamianka-Buzka-Skole-Volovets Railroad-32.jpg|alt=Two portals with the old one overgrown|caption=Two portals with the old one overgrown|other_name=|coordinates=|status=Active|crosses=Carpathian Mountains|start=|end=|opened=* {{start date|1886|df=y}} (old tunnel)
- {{start date|2018|df=y}} (new tunnel)|owner=|operator=|character=|linelength={{convert|1822|m|abbr=on}} (new tunnel)
{{convert|1750 |m|abbr=on}} (old tunnel)|notrack=|gauge={{Track gauge|1520 mm|allk=on}}|el=|speed=|pushpin_map=Ukraine}}File:Ukraine-Kamianka-Buzka-Skole-Volovets Railroad-29.jpg
The Beskydy Tunnel ({{langx|uk|Бескидський тунель}}) is a railway tunnel of the Lviv Railways between the towns of Beskid and Skotarske and passes through the Carpathian Mountains under the Volovets Pass. As the second-longest tunnel in the Ukrainian rail network, it is part of Europe's Corridor V (Italy-Slovenia-Hungary-Slovakia-Ukraine), thus linking Lviv in western Ukraine to cities such as Venice and Trieste in northern Italy, as well as various other locations along the route in Slovenia and Hungary.
History
The first Beskydy Tunnel, built in 1886, was {{convert|1750|m|ft|abbr=on}} long. In time, its capacity no longer met increasing demand, thus it was decided to make a new bore parallel to the existing one. Discussions began in 1998 and construction started in 2014,{{Cite news |url=https://economics.unian.info/m/10132199-week-s-balance-new-tunnel-to-europe-anti-corruption-court-s-final-stretch-and-russia-sanctions.html |title=Week's balance: New tunnel to Europe, anti-corruption court's final stretch, and Russia sanctions|date=27 May 2018 |work=UNIAN |language=en}} using the New Austrian Tunneling Method. Breakthrough was achieved in January 2016[http://zakarpattya.net.ua/News/169069-Beskydskyi-tunel-kriz-Karpaty-vidkryiut-v-tsomu-rotsi-–-Omelian Beskidy tunnel through Carpathians will be opened this year – Omelyan (Бескидський тунель крізь Карпати відкриють в цьому році – Омелян)]. Zakarpattia online, 20 April 2017. and it was inaugurated in a ceremony by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in late May 2018.[https://www.railway-technology.com/news/ukraine-launches-beskyd-railway-tunnel/ "Ukraine launches Beskyd railway tunnel."] railway-technology.com, 25 May 2018.{{Cite news |date=25 May 2018 |title=Beskyd tunnel completed |language=en |work=Railway Gazette |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/beskyd-tunnel-completed.html}}
The new tunnel has a length of 1,822 m and is covered by up to 180 m of rock. The internal dimensions of 8.5 m height and 10.5 m width allows for a double track railway to be accommodated. The two tubes are connected by three lugs, while the old tunnel is being used as a rescue route for the new one.
The maximum speed was increased from 40 km/h to 70 km/h. As a result, the tunnel can now handle 50 to 100 trains daily, nearly 60% of all rail traffic between Ukraine and the European Union, and it will reduce journey times between Lviv and Ukrainian border town Chop, in a bid to facilitate exports of domestic products to neighbouring countries.
The project was financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB); the EBRD invested $40 million, while the EIB contributed €55 million ($64.5 million) for construction. In addition to providing financing, technical expertise was bought in from the EU, especially from Austria, to support the development of the tunnel. The construction process reportedly required 130,000 tonnes of concrete and 8,000 tonnes of steel.
File:2018 Ukraine Stamp 11.png of Ukraine, 2018]]
= 2022 Russian attack =
On the night of 1-2 June 2022, Russia targeted a section of the tunnel with at least two Kalibr cruise missiles to disrupt weapon and fuel supplies from the West to Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The attack was confirmed by governor of Lviv Oblast Maksym Kozytskyy.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/russia-strikes-ukraine-tunnel-border-27128043|title=Russia 'strikes Ukraine tunnel on border to stop weapon supplies to Kyiv'|website=mirror.co.uk|date=2 June 2022}}
References
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz8VjaXtP3U Beskidy tunnel – from idea to realization (Бескидський тунель - від ідеї до втілення)]. Lviv Railways on YouTube. (concept video)
{{coord|48|45|39|N|23|19|27|E|type:landmark_region:UA|display=title|name=divide site}}
Category:Railway tunnels in Ukraine
Category:Rail transport in Zakarpattia Oblast
Category:Rail transport in Lviv Oblast
Category:Tunnels completed in 1886
Category:Tunnels in Zakarpattia Oblast
Category:Tunnels in Lviv Oblast
Category:1886 establishments in Austria-Hungary
Category:Establishments in the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria