Waldshut–Koblenz Rhine Bridge

The current main rail connection between Germany and Switzerland, the Basel Link Line, was opened 14 years later.

A report of the University of Karlsruhe in 1974 estimated the bridge’s remaining useful life as 10 to 15 years, provided that new corrosion protection was applied; this was carried out in 1978.

Until the electrification of the Waldshut–Koblenz gap in 1999, passenger services on the bridge were carried out by diesel multiple units of Deutsche Bahn.

As a temporary solution, the power cars were locked out of use whilst passing over the bridge, and the trains limited to 10 kilometres per hour (6.2 mph).

On the German side, after the line runs on an embankment for some 50 metres (160 ft), it crosses over the E54 on a modern concrete arch bridge.

The superstructure of the lattice truss bridge is made of wrought iron and is box shaped in cross-section.

The superstructure of the current bridge was assembled in three sections on the Waldshut bank in a temporary work hall.

The actual installation of the bridge was carried with the support of piles in the Rhine, using of a 10.5-metre-long (34 ft) wooden launching nose, propelled over a runway.