During 2012, preparatory ground works for the Semmering Base Tunnel commenced. On 7 January 2016, construction began upon the tunnel's central section. Work on this section involved boring work along a length of 8.6 km, while a drill-and-blast method for the remaining 4.3 km section. The central section is to consist of 26 crossover passages between the two tunnels, along with an emergency station; a pair of 400 metre-deep ventilation shafts are also to be dug. By 7 June 2016, work on the third section of the Summering Base Tunnel had commenced; this meant that full-rate construction activity upon the project, which was reportedly costed at €3.3 billion as of this point in time, was now underway.