Gemmenichertunnel

The Gemmenich Tunnel is an 870-meter-long, double-track railway tunnel near Aachen that connects the German and Belgian rail networks. As a border tunnel, it passes through the 322-meter-high Vaalserberg, with 250 meters lying on Belgian territory. Named after the village of Gemmenich, the structure was built in 1872 by the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company. In Belgium, it is also known as the Botzelaer Tunnel. Since its completion, it has been managed from the German side for operational reasons. Between 1989 and 1991, the tunnel was renovated and widened to allow for later electrification, which was completed in 2008 with overhead conductor rails. A interlaced track section was also installed, which can be used by trains with oversized loads.