STRABAG reaches last major milestone at Tulfes–Pfons construction section near Brenner Base Tunnel
6 July 2020
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- Tunnel breakthrough at the Ahrental–Pfons exploratory tunnel
- Construction work on Tulfes–Pfons section to be completed on time in 2021
- World record in tunnelling
- Innovation: use of driverless, trackless train to supply tunnel boring machine
Vienna, 6 July 2020 STRABAG, Austria’s largest construction group, has been working on the Brenner Base Tunnel from the project’s start in 2009. When completed, the “project of the century” will have created the world’s longest underground rail link for freight and passenger transport beneath the Brenner Pass. The tunnel boring machine Günther (named after the governor of Tyrol) is slated to break through at the Ahrental–Pfons exploratory tunnel today, marking the last tunnel breakthrough in the Tulfes–Pfons section.
The Brenner Base Tunnel is an extraordinary project in many respects. Not only did we set a world tunnelling record there with 61.04 m in 24 hours; we also used the latest technologies such as driverless, trackless supply trains. We are therefore all the more pleased about this last major milestone, which has all signs pointing toward punctual completion in 2021,” says Thomas Birtel, CEO of STRABAG SE.
Total of five tunnels in the Tulfes–Pfons construction section
ARGE Tulfes–Pfons (ATP) is a joint venture consisting of STRABAG AG as technical lead partner holding 51 % and Italian construction company webuild (formerly Salini-Impregilo). The nearly 6 km long main gallery with a cross-section of 70 m² has already been completed, with tunnel breakthrough occurring in July 2017. Also completed are the 9.7 km long rescue tunnel, a 6.8 km long connecting tunnel and a safety and logistics tunnel with a length of 3.9 km. The Ahrental–Pfons exploratory tunnel is the last tunnel in the construction section where tunnelling work is still being carried out. It is 16.6 km long and has an excavated cross-section of 49 m².
Facts and figures about the project:
• 43.5 km of tunnel excavated by ATP
• 2.7 million m³ of material excavated
• 61.04 m in 24 hours: new tunnelling world record achieved at BBT
• 5 million kg of explosives used
• 9,000 floor segments installed
• 1 million m³ of shotcrete and structural concrete
• 6 driverless trains in service
You can learn more about the driverless trains (including video) at https://innovation.strabag.com/en/project/virturail-with-an-autonomous-train-into-the-heart-of-the-tunnel/
Construction work at Eisack River undercrossing to continue until 2022
Excavation at the southernmost construction section, which STRABAG has been working on since 2014, is approx. 57 % complete. Several measures had to be taken here in advance to stabilise the soil. This construction section will connect the Brenner Base Tunnel with the existing Brenner rail line.
