First opened to traffic in 1884, it was a major engineering achievement of the nation, being the longest railway tunnel in Austria for over 100 years, possessing a length of . Originally operated by steam locomotives, the Arlberg Railway Tunnel was reengineered during the 1920s for use by electric traction. During the 2010s, further modifications were implemented to introduce improved safety levels and expand the loading gauge. It is interconnected with the later-built Arlberg Road Tunnel.