Infrastructure is built to last, and few are as striking as the Semmering Railway in Austria. Constructed between 1848 and 1854 over 41 kilometres of high mountains, it was one of the greatest feats of civil engineering from the pioneering age of railways. Its tunnels, viaducts and other works were built so well that the line has stayed in continuous use ever since. In 2026, more than 170 years after completion, engineers finished the main renovation work on its largest viaduct, and regular trains are running again. The old stonework and modern upkeep show how heritage can keep working. The Semmering Railway remains a striking example of how historic infrastructure can be preserved, maintained and kept in active service for generations.
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