| Registration Classification | cultural heritage |
| Registration Criteria | (2), (4) |
| Year of registration | 1998 |
The Semmering Railway is an active railroad line through the Semmering Pass in the southwestern part of the capital city of Vienna. 41.8 km of the line was built between 1848 and 1854 to pass through the mountains, and was opened using the most advanced civil engineering techniques of the time, including tunnels and viaducts. The railroad’s opening has been credited with the development of resorts in the surrounding area and the scenery, including the railroad, is highly valued.
Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Semmering Railway is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the Semmering Railway!
What is the Semmering Railway?
The Semmering railroad line runs from the station of Gloggnitz, about 100 km southwest of Vienna, via the Semmering Pass to the station of Mürzzuschlag, the base of the ski resort. The Semmering Pass, which gave the line its name, was 995 meters above sea level and was a difficult section of the route.
It was considered difficult to cross the pass by rail with the technology of the time, but the Albanian railroad engineer Carl Ritter von Ghega devised a plan to build tunnels and railroad bridges and proceed along the mountainside with S-shaped curves, etc., and the pass was opened to traffic in only six years.
In total, the line consisted of 14 tunnels and 16 viaducts made of bricks, as well as countless bridges. Particularly famous is the “Semmering Tunnel” at 898 meters above sea level, which was 1,431 meters long, and the Cante Linné Bridge, which was 46 meters high.
With the opening of this railroad line, the Semmering Pass became a resort for the wealthy. Even today, it is a highland resort that people visit, with many hotels and pensions lined up alongside, where they can enjoy hiking in summer and skiing in winter. A spot where you can casually enjoy a resort stay.
For what reason is the Semmering Railway on the World Heritage List?
The Semmering Railroad was recognized for the following
Registration Criteria (ii)
The Semmering Railroad was also an early mountain railroad in railroad history, with technical solutions such as viaducts and tunnels over mountain passes.
Registration Criteria (iv)
The point is that the opening of the Semmering railroad has made it easier to access places that previously had to go through mountain passes, and the surrounding area has been transformed into a new landscape as a resort area.
World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Thoughts
Nowadays, it is rather common for a railroad to run through highland and mountainous areas, but it is amazing that the Semmering Railway has been active as a mountain railroad in the Alps since the late 19th century.And by developing the railroad, the landscape along the line was greatly changed, and hotels and entertainment facilities were built. The Semmering Railway, including the surrounding landscape, is a World Heritage Site.
Incidentally, a large railroad tunnel called the “Semmering Base Tunnel” is currently being planned to be built under the Semmering Railway, which will greatly shorten the travel between the major cities of Vienna and Klagenfurt. 170 years ago, it was all we could do to cross the mountains, but now we no longer even have to go through them!So, the evolution of mankind is endless.
*The contents here are considerations derived from research by World Heritage enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.
