List of spiral tunnels and tunnels on a curved alignment

Lists of spiral (helicoidal) tunnels and tunnels on a curved alignment on railway lines worldwide.

A part of a line is bracketed (), if it is located in a country other than that mentioned in the specific table:

Example: :(Lausanne – Montreux – Sierre – Visp – Brig – ) → Switzerland

Africa

South Africa

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
LadysmithKroonstad Van Reenen Spiral 1,067 South African Railways 28°22′01″S 29°25′50″E / 28.367°S 29.43049°E / -28.367; 29.43049

Americas

United States

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
None Stevens Pass Martin Creek Tunnel Spiral about 300 22 1,435 Great Northern Railway Built by 1893, Retired in 1929 by the opening of the new Cascade Tunnel. 47°43′26″N 121°12′01″W / 47.723822°N 121.200340°W / 47.723822; -121.200340

Canada

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Western Section of The CPR Kicking Horse Pass Big Hill Spiral two of 900 22 Adhesion 1,435 Canadian Pacific

Asia

Russia

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Baikal-Amur Mainline,
Novy UoyanTaksimo
Severomuysky Diversion,
Osypnoy – Pereval
Tunnel no. 1 Horseshoe 2,142 1,520 East Siberian Railway Built in 1989; after the completion of Severomuysky Tunnel in 2006 serve as a reserve route.[1] 56°14′N 113°26′E / 56.23°N 113.43°E / 56.23; 113.43
Severomuysky Diversion,
Goryachiy Klyuch – Okusikan
Tunnel no. 2 Curved alignment 752

Europe

Croatia

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Zagreb - Rijeka Rijeka Brajdica Spiral 1,873 21 Adhesion 1,435 Nearly a 360° loop entirely in tunnel.

France

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Cuneo to Nice 42.619 km south of Cuneo Tunnel de Branego Turn 1,272 Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF
Cuneo to Nice 47.890 km south of Cuneo Tunnel de Cagnolina Spiral 1,476 Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF
Cuneo to Nice 54.091 km south of Cuneo Tunnel be Bosseglia Turn 1,583 Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF
Cuneo to Nice 57.439 km south of Cuneo Tunnel de Rioro 1 & 2 Spiral 1,828 Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF
Cuneo to Nice 59.575 km south of Cuneo Tunnel de Biogna Turn 1,155 Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF
Cuneo to Nice 59.853 km south of Cuneo Tunnel Porcarezzo Turn 1,251 Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF
Cuneo to Nice 65.817 km south of Cuneo Berghe Spiral 1,881 Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF
Toulouse to Barcelona 2 km north-east of l'Hospitalet Tunnel Helicoïdal de Saillens Spiral 1,752 Adhesion 1,435 SNCF

Germany

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Offenburg - Singen Niederwasser Tunnel [2] Curved alignment 558 17-19 Adhesion 1,435 DB
Offenburg - Singen Triberg Grosser Triberg Tunnel [2] Curved alignment 835 17-19 Adhesion 1,435 DB
Wutach Valley Railway Grosser Stockhalde Tunnel [3] Spiral 1,700 Adhesion 1,435 DB
Wutach Valley Railway Kehrtunnel im Weiler [3] Curved alignment 1,205 Adhesion 1,435 DB

Italy

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
(Lausanne – Montreux – Sierre – Visp – Brig – ) Iselle – Domodossola Iselle, Varzo Varzo Spiral 2,968 22 Adhesion 1,435 SBB Simplon Line (probably the longest curved alignment tunnel in the world)
(LocarnoIntragna – ) Camedo – Domodossola Trontano Pelcetino Loop/Curved alignment 196 60 Adhesion 1,000 (FART), SSIF
(Metropolitana di Napoli) Line 1 Napoli Spiral 55 Adhesion 1,435 Metronapoli metro/subway line
Ferrovia Nulvi-Tempio-Palau (Italian) NulviTempioPalau (Sardinia) Galleria elicoidale di Bortigiadas Curved alignment Adhesion 950 Trenino Verde Tourist service only
Torino - San Giuseppe di Cairo - Savona Savona Santuario Curved alignment 2063 30~ Adhesion 1,435 FS makes a complete loop with some open air sections and other two shorter tunnels
Cuneo to Nice 24.119 km south of Cuneo Galleria hélicoidoïl di Vernante Spiral 1502m Adhesion 1,435 FS & SNCF details of this route continue under 'France' above.
Roccasecca - Avezzano Capistrello Capistrello-La Giorgia S-shaped 2750 ? Adhesion 1,435 FS

Russia

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
ArmavirTuapse Gorny – Indyuk Bolshoy Petlevoy Curved alignment 1,015 1,520 North Caucasus Railway Three tunnels on a single loop, built in 1914, reconstructed in 2006.[4] 44°15′41″N 39°14′54″E / 44.2615°N 39.248306°E / 44.2615; 39.248306
Maly Petlevoy Curved alignment 169
Sredniy Petlevoy Curved alignment 356

Switzerland

The turn tunnels in the following table are sorted from West to East according to the location of the start point of the line.

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Bex – Bretaye Fontannaz-Seulaz Fontannaz-Seulaz Loop/Curved alignment 182 195 Rack 1,000 TPC (BVB)
Martigny – Châtelard( – VallorcineChamonix) Salvan Charbons Loop/Curved alignment 419 200 Rack 1,000 MC
ZermattGornergrat Riffelalp Landtunnel Loop/Curved alignment 174 200 Rack 1,000 GGB
MontreuxZweisimmen Montreux Montreux Loop/Curved alignment 184 65 Adhesion 1,000 MOB
Montreux – Zweisimmen Chamby Chamby Loop/Curved alignment 314 67 Adhesion 1,000 MOB
AigleLeysin-Grand Hotel Leysin-Feydey Leysin Loop/Curved alignment 233 223 Rack 1,000 TPC (AL)
Aigle – Les Diablerets Aigle Grand-Hôtel Loop/Curved alignment 119 60 Adhesion 1,000 TPC (ASD)
MontreuxRochers de Naye Glion Valmont Loop/Curved alignment 385 130 Rack 800 MVR (MTGN)
Montreux – Rochers de Naye Caux Tremblex Loop/Curved alignment 144 220 Rack 800 MVR (MTGN)
Montreux – Rochers de Naye Dent de Jaman Jaman Loop/Curved alignment 77 220 Rack 800 MVR (MTGN)
Vevey – Les Pléiades Vevey Gilamont Loop/Curved alignment 84 50 Adhesion 1,000 MVR (CEV)
BrigSpiez Kandergrund Loop/Curved alignment 1,655 27 Adhesion 1,435 BLS Lötschbergbahn
Zermatt – Visp – Brig – AndermattDisentis Grengiols Grengiols I Spiral 502 96 Rack 1,000 MGB Glacier-Express
Zermatt – Visp – Brig – Andermatt – Disentis Andermatt Butzen Loop/Curved alignment 169 110 Rack 1,000 MGB Glacier-Express
Zermatt – Visp – Brig – Andermatt – Disentis Andermatt Biel Loop/Curved alignment 279 110 Rack 1,000 Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn Glacier-Express
Zermatt – Visp – Brig – Andermatt – Disentis Andermatt Rufenen Loop/Curved alignment 255 110 Rack 1,000 Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn Glacier-Express
Kleine ScheideggJungfraujoch Eiger,
Mönch
Jungfrau Loop/Curved alignment 7,122 250 Rack 1,000 JB The curved alignment is only part of the tunnel.
Grindelwald – Kleine Scheidegg – Lauterbrunnen Wengen Loop/Curved alignment 248 180 Rack 800 WAB
WilderswilSchynige Platte Rotenegg Loop/Curved alignment 168 250 Rack 800 SPB
LauterbrunnenIsenfluh Isenfluh Chuchischleif Loop/Curved alignment 1200 360 Tires 800 Road tunnel
BrienzRothorn Kulm Planalp Schonegg II Loop/Curved alignment 119 250 Rack 800 BRB
LuzernGöschenenAiroloBellinzonaChiasso Gurtnellen Pfaffensprung Spiral 1,476 26 Adhesion 1,435 SBB Gotthardbahn
Luzern – Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Chiasso Wassen Wattingen Loop/Curved alignment 1,084 26 Adhesion 1’435 SBB Gotthardbahn
Luzern – Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Chiasso Wassen Leggistein Loop/Curved alignment 1,090 26 Adhesion 1,435 SBB Gotthardbahn
Luzern – Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Chiasso Prato Freggio Spiral 1,568 27 Adhesion 1,435 SBB Gotthardbahn
Luzern – Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Chiasso Prato Prato Spiral 1'560 28 Adhesion 1,435 SBB Gotthardbahn
Luzern – Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Chiasso Giornico Pianotondo Spiral 1,508 26 Adhesion 1,435 SBB Gotthardbahn
Luzern – Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Chiasso Giornico Travi Spiral 1,547 27 Adhesion 1,435 SBB Gotthardbahn
ChurThusisTiefencastelFilisurSamedanSt. Moritz Filisur Greifenstein Spiral 698 35 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Albula Railway
Glacier-Express
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz Bergün God Loop/Curved alignment 486 35 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Albula Railway
Glacier-Express
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz Bergün Platz Loop/Curved alignment 262 35 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Albula Railway
Glacier-Express
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz Preda Rugnux Spiral 662 35 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Albula Railway
Glacier-Express
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz Preda Toua Spiral 677 35 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Albula Railway
Glacier-Express
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz Preda Zoundra Spiral 535 35 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Albula Railway
Glacier-Express
St. Moritz – PontresinaPoschiavo( – Tirano) Alp Grüm Palü Loop/Curved alignment 254 70 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Bernina Railway
Bernina-Express
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) Alp Grüm Val Pila Loop/Curved alignment 227 70 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Bernina Railway
Bernina-Express
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) Poschiavo Val Varuna I (Oberer Varuna) Loop/Curved alignment 149 70 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Bernina Railway
Bernina-Express
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) Poschiavo Val Varuna I (Unterer Varuna) Loop/Curved alignment 147 70 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Bernina Railway
Bernina-Express
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) Poschiavo Balbalera Loop/Curved alignment 122 70 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Bernina Railway
Bernina-Express
Landquart – KlostersDavos Klosters Klosters Loop/Curved alignment 399 45 Adhesion 1,000 RhB Replaced 1930 the zig zag in Klosters.
Landquart – Klosters – Davos Klosters Cavadürli Loop/Curved alignment 334 45 Adhesion 1,000 RhB
Klosters - Sagliains Klosters Zugwald Loop/Curved alignment 2172 ~40 Adhesion 1,000 RhB On the ramp to the Vereina Tunnel.

Slovakia

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Margecany – Červená Skala Telgárt Tunnel Telgárt [5] Curved alignment 1,240 12.5 Adhesion 1,435 ZSSK

United Kingdom

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
Woodhead Line South Yorkshire Thurgoland Tunnel Curved alignment 282 8 Adhesion 1,435 British Rail (was LNER) 1845-1983

Oceania

New Zealand

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
North Island Main Trunk Raurimu Raurimu Spiral Spiral 383 19 Adhesion 1,067 New Zealand Railways Corporation

Australia

Line Location Tunnel Name Kind of Tunnel Length in m Gradient in ‰ Kind of Operation Gauge in mm Railway Company Remarks
North Coast Railway Cougal Cougal Spiral Spiral 200 15 Adhesion 1,435 Railcorp Also known as 'Border Loop'

References

Locations partly from:

  1. Обход Северомуйского тоннеля (in Russian). Веб-энциклопедия Транссиба. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 Tunnels of the Black Forest Railway(www.nvog.de/bswb.de (in German language) )
  3. 1 2 Map of the Wutach Valley Railway
  4. Большой петлевой тоннель (in Russian). "Bamtonnelstroy" JSC. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  5. Telgártska sľučka - (in Slovak language)
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