Deep beneath the Alps, giant tunneling machines continue to carve out the Brenner Base Tunnel — the future longest underground railway line in the world. This massive project is being implemented at the Brenner Pass and will become a key element of the trans-European transport corridor connecting northern and southern Europe. This is reported by [Euronews](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDSktmzsh6s). One of the construction centers is the alpine village of Steinach am Brenner in Tyrol, Austria, where today one of the largest construction sites in Europe is located. Upon completion, the total length of the underground line will be 64 kilometers, including the existing tunnel to Innsbruck. The base tunnel itself will stretch for 55 kilometers, making it the longest railway tunnel in the world. > "Europe can be proud of what is being created here. This is a common endeavor for all Europeans," said project leader Sebastian Reimann. According to his colleague Andreas Ambrosi, specialists from eleven European countries are working on the construction, and the most advanced technologies are being used in the tunneling process. > "Representatives from eleven countries from all over Europe are working here. Leading European companies are involved. Herrenknecht alone currently has eight tunneling machines in operation," he noted. The project is one of the key initiatives for the European Union. Its goal is to reduce the volume of road transport through the Alps, decrease carbon dioxide emissions, and make freight transport more environmentally friendly. Today, the Brenner Pass remains one of the busiest transport routes in Europe. More than 2.5 million trucks, about 14 million cars, and approximately 50 million tons of cargo pass through it each year. Meanwhile, about 70% of all transport is carried out by road, while the railway accounts for only 30% of the freight flow. After the tunnel opens, the journey between Fortezza in Italy and Innsbruck in Austria will be reduced from the current 80 minutes to less than 25 minutes. The launch of the facility is scheduled for 2032. The construction has significantly delayed — by about 16 years compared to the original plans, and the project's cost has risen to 8.5 billion euros, which is approximately 2.5 billion euros above the initial estimate. However, experts note that the full potential of the new corridor can only be realized after the completion of the northern railway approaches in Germany. Until these works are finished, the efficiency of the new route may be lower than expected. The Brenner Base Tunnel will not only be a world record holder for length but also one of the most important transport projects in Europe in the 21st century. It is expected to change the freight transport system across the Alps, reduce travel times between Italy and Austria, and become a symbol of large-scale European cooperation in infrastructure.