Following the intensive rainfall, authorities have closed several important railway lines across the Alps for railway traffic. Following the freight train derailment in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, these actions might further complicate the situation.
Landslide between France and Italy
On 27 August 2023 a 5 pm, in the French town of Saint-André in La Praz, 700 m3 of rock fell on the railway line and road connecting France and Italy, causing closure for all traffic indefinitely. All international trains on the Torino – Chambery line were stopped, as well as all rail traffic around Maurienne. Intercity trains between Italy and France are rerouted via Switzerland, already under heavy pressure due to the aforementioned derailment and its impacts.
Floods and mudslides in Austria
A couple of days after opening the Brenner line for traffic after almost a month-long renovation, the cross-Alpine axis is closed for traffic again. But, the Brennerbahn is not the only one impacted by torrential rain and mudslides.
OBB expects to open these lines for traffic on 29 August 2023 at 6 p.m.:
- Brenner line – between Innsbruck main station and Brennero/Brenner
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Western line - between Bruck-Fusch train station and Schwarzach-St.Veit train station
These closed railway lines do not have a date set for reopening:
- Tauern line - between Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein
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Western line via Zell am See - between Golling-Abtenau and Werfen and between Imst-Pitztal and Schönwies
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Mittenwald line - between Innsbruck-Hötting and Innsbruck Westbahnhof
Bad weather and storms have also caused disruptions in Norway, where a railway bridge collapsed into the river.
