page_title: Simplon Railway
section_title: Brig–Domodossola
hierarchical_section_title: Simplon Railway / History / Brig–Domodossola
caption_attribution_description: English: Simplon tunnel - North portal, Brig, the construction period Čeština: Simplonský tunel - severní portál u Brigu v době výstavby
context_page_description: The Simplon Railway is a line that links Lausanne in Switzerland and Domodossola in Italy, via Brig. The 20 km-long Simplon Tunnel is a major part of it. The line between Lausanne and Vallorbe is sometimes considered to form part of the line, making it 233 km long.
  Together with the Lötschberg Railway to its north, it forms the second most important trans-Alpine railway line in Switzerland after the Gotthard Railway, which lies to its east and is about 240 km long.
  ETCS level 2 is expected to be installed on the line between Lausanne and Brig before 2022.
context_section_description: The first tube of the Simplon Tunnel was completed after eight years of construction and, along with the continuation of the line to Domodossola, it was opened in 1906. The connection to Domodossola included the Varzo elicoidale, which was probably the longest spiral tunnel in the world. The Simplon tunnel was electrified with 3000 Volt 16 Hertz three-phase AC power from the beginning of operations until 1930.
  The second tube of the Simplon tunnel was built between 1912 and 1921 and opened to traffic in 1922.
  In 1930, the route from Brig to Domodossola was electrified throughout with the standard Swiss system of 15 kV/16​²⁄₃ Hz AC, which with its high voltage better suited the steep south ramp than the Italian 3,000 Volt DC system. The dispatcher at the nearby Italian south ramp (Iselle–Domodossola) has worked under Swiss regulations since the establishment of the SBB. Until the electrification in 1930, the 2.5 percent grade on the section was worked by steam, using a large number of C 5/6 locomotives that had been reallocated to the Brig depot after the electrification of the Gotthard Railway. The section, which is equipped with the Swiss train protection system belongs to Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), which also provides the ground personnel. Even in the 21st century, with open access, the majority of traffic on the Italian section is hauled by Swiss locomotives.
  Since 1992, there has been a single-track link, electrified on the Swiss system, from Domodossola I station to the Domodossola II marshalling yard to provide access for Swiss locomotives. The marshalling yard mainly provides changes of traction for through freight trains.
caption: Construction of the Simplon tunnel
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