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 |
Ladysmith–Kroonstad |
Van Reenen |
Spiral |
1,067 |
South African Railways |
Americas
United States
Line |
Location |
Tunnel Name |
Kind of Tunnel |
Length in m |
Gradient in ‰ |
Kind of Operation |
Gauge in mm |
Railway Company |
Remarks |
Stevens Pass |
Martin Creek Tunnel |
Spiral |
about 300 |
22 |
1,435 |
Great Northern Railway |
Built by 1883, Retired in 1929 by the opening of the new Cascade Tunnel. |
||
Bakersfiled-Mojave |
Tehachapi Pass |
Tehachapi Loop |
Spiral |
~1175 |
20 |
Union Pacific Railroad |
Construction started in 1874; inaugurated in 1876 |
||
Canada
Line |
Location |
Tunnel Name |
Kind of Tunnel |
Length in m |
Gradient in ‰ |
Kind of Operation |
Gauge in mm |
Railway Company |
Remarks |
Kicking Horse Pass |
Big Hill |
Spiral |
two of 900 |
22 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
Canadian Pacific |
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 |
HŽ |
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 |
Nice - Tende |
Tunnel de Berghe |
Turn |
1,884 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SNCF |
|||
Nice - Tende |
Tunnel de Rioro |
Spiral |
1,828 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SNCF |
|||
Nice - Tende |
Tunnels des gorges du Paganin |
Spiral |
1,702 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SNCF |
|||
Nice - Tende |
Tunnels de Bosseglia |
Turn |
1,583 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SNCF |
|||
Nice - Tende |
Galleria elicoidale di Vernante |
Spiral |
1,502 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SNCF |
|||
Nice - Tende |
Tunnel Cagnolina |
Spiral |
1,468 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SNCF |
|||
Nice - Tende |
Tunnel Branego |
Turn |
1,273 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SNCF |
|||
Nice - Tende |
Tunnel de Porcarezzo |
Turn |
1,250 |
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 |
Curved alignment |
558 |
17-19 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
DB |
||
Offenburg - Singen |
Triberg |
Grosser Triberg Tunnel |
Curved alignment |
835 |
17-19 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
DB |
|
Wutach Valley Railway |
Grosser Stockhalde Tunnel |
Spiral |
1,700 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
DB |
|||
Wutach Valley Railway |
Kehrtunnel im Weiler |
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 |
Trasquera |
Spiral |
1,712 |
22 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
SBB |
Simplon Line |
(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) |
(Locarno – Intragna – ) 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) |
Nulvi – Tempio – Palau (Sardinia) |
Galleria elicoidale di Bortigiadas |
Curved alignment |
Adhesion |
950 |
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 - Breil-sur-Roya (France) - Ventimiglia/Nice |
Cuneo - Breil-sur-Roya |
Unknown |
Spiral/Curved alignment |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
FS |
Four separate spirals plus several further curved alignments. Originally 3-phase electrified. |
||
Roccasecca - Avezzano |
Capistrello |
Capistrello-La Giorgia |
S-shaped |
2750 |
? |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
FS |
Switzerland
The turn tunnels in the following table are sorted from West to East according 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( – Vallorcine – Chamonix) |
Salvan |
Charbons |
Loop/Curved alignment |
419 |
200 |
Rack |
1,000 |
MC |
|
Zermatt – Gornergrat |
Riffelalp |
Landtunnel |
Loop/Curved alignment |
174 |
200 |
Rack |
1,000 |
GGB |
|
Montreux – Zweisimmen |
Montreux |
Montreux |
Loop/Curved alignment |
184 |
65 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
MOB |
|
Montreux – Zweisimmen |
Chamby |
Chamby |
Loop/Curved alignment |
314 |
67 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
MOB |
|
Aigle – Leysin-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) |
|
Montreux – Rochers 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) |
|
Brig – Spiez |
Kandergrund |
– |
Loop/Curved alignment |
1,655 |
27 |
Adhesion |
1,435 |
BLS |
Lötschbergbahn |
Zermatt – Visp – Brig – Andermatt – Disentis |
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 Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch |
Eiger, |
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 |
|
Wilderswil – Schynige Platte |
Rotenegg |
Loop/Curved alignment |
168 |
250 |
Rack |
800 |
SPB |
||
Brienz – Rothorn Kulm |
Planalp |
Schonegg II |
Loop/Curved alignment |
119 |
250 |
Rack |
800 |
BRB |
|
Luzern – Göschenen – Airolo – Bellinzona – Chiasso |
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 |
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz |
Filisur |
Greifenstein |
Spiral |
698 |
35 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Albula Railway |
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz |
Bergün |
God |
Loop/Curved alignment |
486 |
35 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Albula Railway |
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz |
Bergün |
Platz |
Loop/Curved alignment |
262 |
35 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Albula Railway |
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz |
Preda |
Rugnux |
Spiral |
662 |
35 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Albula Railway |
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz |
Preda |
Toua |
Spiral |
677 |
35 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Albula Railway |
Chur – Thusis – Tiefencastel – Filisur – Samedan – St. Moritz |
Preda |
Zuondra |
Spiral |
535 |
35 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Albula Railway |
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) |
Alp Grüm |
Palü |
Loop/Curved alignment |
254 |
70 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Bernina Railway |
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) |
Alp Grüm |
Val Pila |
Loop/Curved alignment |
227 |
70 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Bernina Railway |
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) |
Poschiavo |
Val Varuna I (Oberer Varuna) |
Loop/Curved alignment |
149 |
70 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Bernina Railway |
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) |
Poschiavo |
Val Varuna I (Unterer Varuna) |
Loop/Curved alignment |
147 |
70 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Bernina Railway |
St. Moritz – Pontresina – Poschiavo( – Tirano) |
Poschiavo |
Balbalera |
Loop/Curved alignment |
122 |
70 |
Adhesion |
1,000 |
RhB |
Bernina Railway |
Landquart – Klosters – Davos |
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 |
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 |
References
- Hans G. Wägli: Schienennetz Schweiz/Réseau ferré suisse; Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, Generalsekretariat; 1980; ISBN 3-905111-21-7 (Edition 1998)
Locations partly from:
- Bundesamt für Landestopografie, Landeskarte der Schweiz, Zusammensetzung 101, Thuner See Zentralschweiz, 1:100'000, 1987
- Office fédéral de topographie, Carte nationale de la Suisse, Assemblage 104, Lausanne-Bern, 1:100'000, 1986
- Office fédéral de topographie, Carte nationale de la Suisse, Assemblage 105, Valais∙Wallis, 1:100'000, 1987
- Bundesamt für Landestopografie, Landeskarte der Schweiz, Zusammensetzung 106, Glarnerland Bündnerland, 1:100'000, 1985
- Ufficio federale di topografia, Carta nazionale della Svizzera, Carte riunite 107, Ticino∙Tessin, 1:100'000, 1987
de:Liste der Kehrtunnel (Eisenbahn)