{"id":526472,"date":"2026-09-01T19:49:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T09:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=73954"},"modified":"2026-09-01T19:49:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T09:49:20","slug":"rail-freight-catches-a-break-during-italy-austria-border-crossing-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=526472","title":{"rendered":"Rail freight catches a break during Italy-Austria border crossing closure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rail services between Italy and Austria via the Tarvisio-Villach border crossing have been suspended since 22 August for infrastructure works, which will last until 20 September. However, freight trains will be allowed to run at night already from 14 September. The initiative should ensure the passage of about 100 convoys, the Italian infrastructure manager RFI highlighted.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>\u201cTo accommodate logistics operators’ requests, starting Monday, 14 September, and until the end of the closure, nighttime windows will be opened for freight trains only. It is estimated that approximately 100 freight trains will be able to pass through the line before the work is completed\u201d, RFI<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

The line leading into Austria via Tarvisio is vital for freight trains coming from and going to the Trieste and Monfalcone port complex. To alleviate some of the pressure related to these interruptions of traffic, the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region allocated \u20ac3 million to help operators with re-routing costs.<\/p>\n

The slab track failure<\/h2>\n

This round of renovations along the section stretching along four kilometres between Carnia and Pontebba entails the removal of the slab track panels, which will be replaced with the more traditional ballast and sleepers. The slab track system was installed on the Udine-Tarvisio line over the final two decades of last century, but did not deliver the expected results.<\/p>\n

In a mountainous area such as the one in question, it turns out that ballastless infrastructure does not respond well to significant temperature changes and strong vibrations. Contrary to initial prediction, the infrastructure ended up requiring much more maintenance than previously expected. Hence the need to go back to the good old ballast and sleeper system.<\/p>\n

Other renovations<\/h2>\n

In addition to the removal of the slab track, the rails will be replaced along the Carnia-Pontebba line. A number of tunnels will also be subjected to works, from strengthening to firefighting and lighting systems. Moreover, a device to monitor the temperature of axle boxes will be installed at the station in Bagni.<\/p>\n

Finally, optic fibre is being laid for the Safe Electric Traction System, which \u201callows the electrical sectioning and earthing of the contact line in case of maintenance or emergencies in the tunnel\u201d, RFI added. The total investment amounts to \u20ac18.35 million.<\/p>\n

Italy-France traffic to close too<\/h2>\n

While some support measures are being implemented for the closure of the Udine-Tarvisio line, the same cannot be said<\/a> for the Frejus line, which connects Italy and France and will also be closed soon for infrastructure works. This line will shut down between 11 September and 8 October, forcing operators to drastically reduce their volumes and finding re-routing alternatives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rail services between Italy and Austria via the Tarvisio-Villach border crossing have been suspended since 22 August for infrastructure works, which will last until 20\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1431,72,343,345,471,47,347,11414,11415],"tags":[12634],"class_list":["post-526472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-austria","category-business","category-infrastructure","category-italy","category-news","category-rail-news","category-rfi","category-tarvisio","category-udine","tag-railfreight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t