gotthard base tunnel
DESCRIPTION
By Ricardo LoureiroTRANSCRIPT
Gotthard Base Tunnel
World’s longest rail tunel
Ricardo Loureiro n. 53584
Class LC11D
Inglês 2012/13Prof. Luís Amaral
Overview
Main goals
To increase the capacity on railroad transportation
To reduce the pollution caused by the trucks that pass by the Alps
To reduce the travel times.
Specifications
Length: Western tunnel: 56.978 km Eastern tunnel: 57.091 km Total length of all tunnels and
shafts: 151.84 km Diameter of each of the single-track
tubes: 8.83–9.58 m
Specifications
Start of construction: 1993 (sounding drills), 1996 (preparations), 2003 (mechanical excavation)
End of construction: 2016
Tunnel scheme
TBM
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Excavation by TBM - 85.529 km It provides a safer and less disturbing drill to
the surrounding area The drilling is faster than traditional
techniques.
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Number of TBMs used: 4 Total length: 440 m (including back-up
equipment) Total weight: 3,000 tons Max. excavation daily: 25–30m (in excellent
rock conditions)
Excavation by blasting (conventional drive)
66.311 km - 43.7 % (Sections of the main tunnel , cross
passages, access tunnels, etc.) Excavation diameter in tunnel section with
drive by blasting (only single track tunnels) -8.80 - 13.08 m
Different numbers and facts
Regular distance between single tunnels - 40 m
Max. Distance between single tunnels - 70 m Number of cross passages total - 176 pieces Regular distance between cross passages -
312.5 m Maximum work temperature - 28° C Persons employed, including engineers,
geologists, etc. - 2600
By 2016...
In December, the construction is expected to be completed.
Trains per day: 200–250 Amount of excavated rock: 28,200,000 tons Total cost: CHF 9.74 billion (as of October
2010) (US$10.1 billion)