The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) is a railway tunnel under construction in Switzerland. With a planned length of 57 km (35.4 mi) and a total of 153.5 km (95.4 mi) of tunnels, shafts and passages planned, it will be the longest tunnel (of all railway and road tunnels) in the world upon completion, ahead of the current record holder, the Seikan Tunnel (connecting the Japanese islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō). The project is designed to feature two separate tunnels containing one track each. The tunnel is part of the Swiss AlpTransit project, also known as New Railway Link through the Alps NRLA which also includes the Lötschberg Base Tunnel between the cantons of Berne and Valais. Like the Lötschberg tunnel, it is intended to bypass winding mountain routes and establish a direct route suitable for high speed rail and heavy freight trains. On completion it is expected to decrease the current 3.5 hours travel time from Zürich to Milan by one hour. It will also reduce the time between Zürich and Lugano to 1 hour 40 minutes. The two portals will be near the villages of Erstfeld, Canton Uri and Bodio, Canton Ticino.
Completion had been projected for 2015 but due to delays the tunnel was thought not be completed before 2018. With a penetrate in one of the tunnels achieved on 15 June 2009, an opening date for the tunnels during 2017 seems likely since work currently is progressing at a higher pace than projected.
Completion had been projected for 2015 but due to delays the tunnel was thought not be completed before 2018. With a penetrate in one of the tunnels achieved on 15 June 2009, an opening date for the tunnels during 2017 seems likely since work currently is progressing at a higher pace than projected.
AlpTransit Gotthard AG is conscientious for structure. It is a wholly owned contributory of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS). To cut construction time in half, four access tunnels were built so that the construction of the tunnel can start at four (now five) different sites concurrently (Erstfeld, Amsteg, Sedrun, Faido and Bodio).
A tunnel system with two single track tunnels is being built. The two rail tunnels are joined around every 325 m (1,066 ft) by linking galleries. Trains can change tunnels in the two multifunction stations (MFS) at Sedrun and Faido. These stations will house ventilation equipment and technical communications, and will serve as emergency stops and emigration routes upon tunnel completion.
Access to the site where the Sedrun station is being excavated is quite difficult. The station is only available by a level access tunnel of 1 km (0.6 mi) from the valley floor near Sedrun, where at the end two shafts lead 800 m (2,625 ft) straight down to the base tunnel level. A project to construct a functioning railway station called Porta Alpina at this site was put on indefinite hold in September 2007.
As of 31 May 2009 (2009 -05-31), final break-through for all tunnels is expected in Spring 2011. In December 2009, the expected date of final break-through had been moved forward to November 2010.
A tunnel system with two single track tunnels is being built. The two rail tunnels are joined around every 325 m (1,066 ft) by linking galleries. Trains can change tunnels in the two multifunction stations (MFS) at Sedrun and Faido. These stations will house ventilation equipment and technical communications, and will serve as emergency stops and emigration routes upon tunnel completion.
Access to the site where the Sedrun station is being excavated is quite difficult. The station is only available by a level access tunnel of 1 km (0.6 mi) from the valley floor near Sedrun, where at the end two shafts lead 800 m (2,625 ft) straight down to the base tunnel level. A project to construct a functioning railway station called Porta Alpina at this site was put on indefinite hold in September 2007.
As of 31 May 2009 (2009 -05-31), final break-through for all tunnels is expected in Spring 2011. In December 2009, the expected date of final break-through had been moved forward to November 2010.
Allocation of work
The contracts are being let in sections as follows:
* Erstfeld (section from Erstfeld to Amsteg) 7.7 km (4.8 mi) – two TBMs started boring the two tubes. The break through of the east tube between Erstfeld and Amsteg took place on 15 June 2009 and was transmitted live by Swiss Television (SF TV).
* Amsteg (section from Amsteg to north of Sedrun) 11.4 km (7.1 mi) – work being carried out by ARGE AGN (Strabag and Züblin Murer) On 9 December 2009, the the Amsteg section was officialy handed over to the tunnel's owner. Railway track will now start to be installed.
* Sedrun (section immediately north and south of Sedrun) 6.8 km (4.2 mi) – working being carried out by Transco (Bilfinger Berger, Implenia, Frutiger and Pizzarotti). The last break through of the Gotthard Project, Sedrun to Faido, is expected to occur at the beginning of 2011.
* Faido (section from south of Sedrun to Faido) 14.6 km (9.1 mi) – work being carried out by Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, Hochtief and Implenia and Impregilo)
* Bodio (section from Faido to Bodio) 16.6 km (10.3 mi) – work being carried out by Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, Hochtief, Implenia and Impregilo)
The contracts are being let in sections as follows:
* Erstfeld (section from Erstfeld to Amsteg) 7.7 km (4.8 mi) – two TBMs started boring the two tubes. The break through of the east tube between Erstfeld and Amsteg took place on 15 June 2009 and was transmitted live by Swiss Television (SF TV).
* Amsteg (section from Amsteg to north of Sedrun) 11.4 km (7.1 mi) – work being carried out by ARGE AGN (Strabag and Züblin Murer) On 9 December 2009, the the Amsteg section was officialy handed over to the tunnel's owner. Railway track will now start to be installed.
* Sedrun (section immediately north and south of Sedrun) 6.8 km (4.2 mi) – working being carried out by Transco (Bilfinger Berger, Implenia, Frutiger and Pizzarotti). The last break through of the Gotthard Project, Sedrun to Faido, is expected to occur at the beginning of 2011.
* Faido (section from south of Sedrun to Faido) 14.6 km (9.1 mi) – work being carried out by Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, Hochtief and Implenia and Impregilo)
* Bodio (section from Faido to Bodio) 16.6 km (10.3 mi) – work being carried out by Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, Hochtief, Implenia and Impregilo)
Facts and figures
* Length: 56.978 km (35.404 mi) (western tunnel) 57.091 km (35.475 mi) (eastern tunnel)
* Total length of all tunnels and shafts: 153.4 km (95.32 mi)
* Length: 56.978 km (35.404 mi) (western tunnel) 57.091 km (35.475 mi) (eastern tunnel)
* Total length of all tunnels and shafts: 153.4 km (95.32 mi)
* Start of construction: 1993 (sounding drills), 1996 (preparations), 2003 (mechanical excavation)
* End of construction: 2016–2017
* Commissioning: End of 2017
* Total cost: CHF 9.4 billion (US$9.0 billion)
* Trains per day: 200–250
* Volume of excavated rock: 26,500,000 t (29,211,250 ST; 26,081,473 LT) (13,300,000 m3/17,395,743 cu yd or the equiv. of 5 Gizeh pyramids)
* Number of tunnel boring machines (TBM): 4 (2 southbound from Amsteg to Sedrun, 2 northbound from Bodio to Faido and Sedrun, section from Erstfeld to Amsteg will also be built with TBM, maybe the same used for Amsteg-Sedrun)
o Total length: 440 m (1,400 ft) (incl. back-up equipment)
o Total weight: 3,000 t (3,307 ST; 2,953 LT)
o Effect: 5 megawatts
o Max. excavation daily: 25–30 m (82–98 ft) (in excellent rock conditions)
o Total excavation length by TBM: about 45 km (28 mi)
o Manufacturer: Herrenknecht, Schwanau, Germany
* End of construction: 2016–2017
* Commissioning: End of 2017
* Total cost: CHF 9.4 billion (US$9.0 billion)
* Trains per day: 200–250
* Volume of excavated rock: 26,500,000 t (29,211,250 ST; 26,081,473 LT) (13,300,000 m3/17,395,743 cu yd or the equiv. of 5 Gizeh pyramids)
* Number of tunnel boring machines (TBM): 4 (2 southbound from Amsteg to Sedrun, 2 northbound from Bodio to Faido and Sedrun, section from Erstfeld to Amsteg will also be built with TBM, maybe the same used for Amsteg-Sedrun)
o Total length: 440 m (1,400 ft) (incl. back-up equipment)
o Total weight: 3,000 t (3,307 ST; 2,953 LT)
o Effect: 5 megawatts
o Max. excavation daily: 25–30 m (82–98 ft) (in excellent rock conditions)
o Total excavation length by TBM: about 45 km (28 mi)
o Manufacturer: Herrenknecht, Schwanau, Germany
source:wikipedia.org
