Koralm tunnel

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Koralm tunnel
Koralm tunnel
West portal of the future Koralm tunnel ( Mitterpichling exploration tunnel , picture from 2007)
traffic connection Koralm Railway , Baltic-Adriatic Axis
place West portal: Sankt Andrä
East portal: Frauental an der Laßnitz
length 32.893 km (south tube)
32.860 km (north tube)dep1
Number of tubes 2
cross-section 51 m²
Largest coverage up to 1200 m
construction
Client ÖBB Infrastructure AG
start of building 2009
completion planned for 2026Template: future / in 5 years
location
Map Koralmtunnel.png
Course of the Koralm Railway with the Koralm Tunnel
location
Koralm Tunnel (Austria)
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Coordinates
West portal 46 ° 43 ′ 49 ″  N , 14 ° 51 ′ 40 ″  E
East portal 46 ° 48 '39 "  N , 15 ° 15' 49"  E

The Koralm Tunnel is the core of the Koralm Railway Graz – Klagenfurt which is currently under construction . As a base tunnel, it will cross the Koralpe and connect the area around Deutschlandsberg with the Lavanttal and go into operation in December 2025.

At around 32.9 km (planned) it is the longest tunnel on the line and, when completed, will be the longest railway tunnel in Austria and the seventh longest railway tunnel in the world.

General

The Koralm Railway between Graz and Klagenfurt is a major part of the Baltic-Adriatic axis . This new high-performance railway connection is intended to create new capacities and significantly improved conditions for passenger and rail freight traffic.

The Koralm tunnel as the centerpiece of the 130 km long high-speed railway Koralm line is to have a length of almost 32.9 km when completed, have two single-lane tunnel tubes and cross passages every 500 m. The maximum overburden is 1200 m. An emergency stop is planned in the middle of the tunnel. The center distance of the two tunnel tubes is around 40 m, in the area of ​​the emergency stop 50 m.

Segment factory at the construction site of the Koralm tunnel near Deutschlandsberg -Leibenfeld

After approx. 130 exploratory bores with a total of approx. 21,000 running meters had been carried out in a multi-phase exploration program, a total of 10 km long exploration tunnel system, consisting of four construction lots at Leibenfeld and Paierdorf, was started in preparation for the last official procedures and the tenders in 2003 . The Leibenfeld, Mitterpichling and Paierdorf exploration tunnels and the Leibenfeld and Paierdorf exploration shafts have now been successfully completed.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the first construction section of the Koralm tunnel at the east portal (KAT1) took place on March 20, 2009. Work on the second construction lot (KAT2) began in January 2011 and work on the third construction lot (KAT3) in November 2013.

ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG maintains visitor information centers - so-called infoboxes - near the construction sites in Leibenfeld (KAT2) and Mitterpichling (KAT3) and also enables visits to the tunnel construction site.

Construction phase

On May 21, 2010 the tunnel of the KAT 1 section, with 2.3 km of tunnel and 3.2 km of free stretch, the shortest section of the three tunnel construction sections, was constructed. At the same time, however, the Austrian Ministry of Infrastructure announced a new evaluation of all major Austrian infrastructure projects. At a political summit meeting at the east portal of the Koralm tunnel on June 25, 2010, the financing was finally guaranteed, on October 12, 2010 the KAT 2, the largest tunnel construction lot with around 20 km, was awarded. This is considered the “point of no return” for the Koralm tunnel. The construction work for the tunnel construction lot KAT2 began in January 2011. In May 2012 the first tunnel breakthrough took place between the two construction lots KAT1 and KAT2. In January 2013 the first tunnel boring machine was officially started on the Styrian side and in November 2013 construction work on the third and last Koralm tunnel construction lot KAT3 started from the Carinthian side. The Koralm tunnel breakthrough in the south tube took place on August 14, 2018, the final breakthrough in the north tube took place on June 17, 2020

The Koralm Railway

Main article: Koralm Railway

As a result of the expansion of the European Union in 2004, Austria as a transit country is moving away from its peripheral EU location and consolidating its position within the EU as an important link with the countries of Southeast and Eastern Europe.

The Pontafelbahn axis was defined as a key link within the Trans-European Networks (TEN) . Efforts to include this axis in the list of priority transport projects of the EU are currently in progress, this route ultimately forms the logical continuation of the pan-European corridor PP23 to a Baltic-Adriatic axis , which connects Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia with the Vienna area, To link southern Austria, northern Italy and the Adriatic ports. This also connects the regions along the Danube that are important for Austria with the regions in the south and east of Austria in high quality.

In Austria, too, great efforts have been made for several years to raise it to a future-oriented level along this railway corridor. The almost complete new construction of the approximately 130 km long Koralm Railway between Graz and Klagenfurt will significantly increase future line capacities along a significant part of this axis. Improved conditions for rail freight traffic are created, travel times in passenger traffic will be massively shortened by the project and thus rail-side accessibility in southern Austria will be improved.

The Koralm tunnel

Koralm tunnel construction lot KAT 1 - cyclical advance
Koralm tunnel construction lot KAT 1 - drill boreholes

Brief portrait

  • Version: 2 single-track tubes
  • Center distance of the tunnel tubes: 40 m; in the area of ​​the emergency stop 50 m; lower in the areas close to the portal due to the system
  • Inner radius of the tunnel tubes: 3.95 m
  • Excavated area: 82 m² per tunnel tube
  • Cross cuts: every 500 m (serve as escape routes into the safe tube in the event of a fault )
  • Emergency stop: center of the tunnel (in this area 50 m center distance between the two tubes)
  • Total length: 32.893 km (south tube) or 32.860 km (north tube)
  • Max. Overburden: 1,200 m
  • Air supply shafts: Leibenfeld and Paierdorf

The tunnel has a roof profile . From the high point, around 18 km from the east portal, the gradient drops at 5.44 per thousand to the east and 3.00 per thousand to the west.

In detail

The two-tube Koralm tunnel is around 32.9 km long and has a maximum overlap of approx. 1,200 m is the core of the new high-performance route between Graz and Klagenfurt. In the areas close to the portal, it crosses neogene, fine-clastic sediments and in the central part the polymetamorphic massif of the Koralpe, consisting of gneiss and mica slate sequences with subordinate marbles, amphibolites and eclogites.

The two tunnel tubes, which after multi-phase cross-section optimization, taking into account railway and aerodynamic requirements, usually have an inner radius of 3.95 m, run with a center distance of around 40 m and are connected to each other every 500 m via crosscuts. In the event of an incident, the crosscuts serve as escape routes into the second, safe tube and also contain rooms for the railway equipment. Depending on the system, there is a smaller center distance in the areas near the portal. In the central part of the Koralm tunnel, the center distance was increased to around 50 m in order to make space for an emergency stop, 2 x approx. 400 m long, located between the tubes. The emergency stop is located approximately in the middle of the tunnel and forms an area with an additional increased safety level in the event of a fault. On the basis of extensive operational as well as maintenance and safety-related investigations, the implementation of a transfer point was dispensed with in the first construction phase, which made it possible to create a tunnel system that is simple in terms of safety and ventilation.

Air can be brought into the tunnel system in the event of maintenance or malfunctions via the two supply air shafts in Leibenfeld (around 60 m deep) and Paierdorf (around 120 m deep).

The main tunnel is being driven in three main construction phases:

  1. Lot KAT 1 from the east portal near Frauental to the Leibenfeld area
  2. Construction lot KAT 2 from Leibenfeld to the breakthrough to construction lots KAT 1 and KAT 3
  3. Construction lot KAT 3 from the west portal to the penetration with construction lot KAT 2

In the areas between the east portal and the Leibenfeld, in the emergency stop and the cross passages as well as in the area of ​​the south tube of the KAT 3 construction lot, cyclical tunneling is planned; the other areas will be driven continuously with shield machines.

Milestones

  • 1995 (planning transfer HL-AG): start of planning
  • 1997: start of the route selection process
  • 1999: Start of construction
  • December 2008: Start of construction lot Koralm Tunnel 1 (KAT 1)
  • Spring 2010: start of mining CAT 1
  • Spring 2010: Construction of the Klagenfurt freight station begins
  • September 2010: Start of construction at Kühnsdorf station
  • January 2011: Start of construction lot Koralm Tunnel 2 (KAT 2)
  • July 2011: Completion of the Leibenfeld construction shaft (KAT 2)
  • May 2012: breakthrough south tube (CAT 1 - CAT 2)
  • August 2012: breakthrough north tube (CAT 1 - CAT 2)
  • January 2013: Start of continuous tunneling KAT 2 (turning the TBM Mauli 1 south tunnel)
  • October 2013: First construction lot (CAT 1) is completed
  • November 2013: Start of construction lot Koralm Tunnel 3 (KAT 3)
  • October 2015: The last tunnel boring machine started at KAT3
  • October 2015: Start of construction of the emergency stop in the Koralm tunnel
  • August 14, 2018: Tunnel breakthrough in the south tube of the Koralm tunnel
  • June 17, 2020: Tunnel breakthrough in the north tube of the Koralm tunnel

Project status

Building on the results of the corridor investigations for the Koralm railway, the first rough planning and geological-geotechnical work on the corridor of the Koralm tunnel began in 1998. The route selection was completed in 2001. A way was found at an early stage, particularly for the routing in the central part of the Koralpe, to avoid areas that are difficult and risky from a tunneling perspective.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the 44.2 km long Wettmannstätten - St. Andrä section of the Koralm Railway, in which the Koralm Tunnel is also located, was completed with a positive result in 2003. The subsoil investigation took place in a multi-phase process with the aim of gaining a three-dimensional, consistent level of knowledge that is deepened from project phase to project phase. The path taken in this, a clearly subdivided, multi-stage approach, in which the level of knowledge is gradually deepened, adapted to the respective required project and authority procedures, allowed an efficient and structured acquisition of a comprehensive level of knowledge about the expected subsoil conditions.

In the course of the deep exploration, a total of 133 core holes with approx. 21,000 running meters and maximum depths of 1,200 m were sunk. Drilling methods were developed further specifically for the specific conditions and exploration goals of the Koralm tunnel, and extensive further and new developments in geophysical exploration processes were initiated by the Koralm tunnel project.

As part of this step-by-step exploration program, construction began in 2003 on a total of around 10 km long system of exploration tunnels and shafts, which in particular serve to obtain detailed geological and hydrogeological knowledge as the basis for tenders for the main drives. The last ongoing driving work at the Paierdorf exploration tunnel was completed in spring 2010.

The railway construction permit for the Koralm tunnel was obtained at the end of 2007; construction of the first construction lot on the Koralm tunnel (KAT 1) began in December 2008. The KAT 2 construction lot was awarded in mid-October 2010. Construction work on construction lot KAT 3 started in November 2013. From today's perspective, the driving work on the Koralm tunnel is expected to be completed in 2018–2019. The KAT 1 construction lot was completed on schedule in October 2013.

In the course of the budget negotiations, it was also announced that the completion date will not be set as 2020 as planned, but only in 2021 (partial operation) or 2023 (full operation), originally at the same time as the Semmering Base Tunnel .

technology

An overhead conductor rail is to be used to supply the trains with energy . Approval has since been applied for for operation at 250 km / h.

Rescue concept

During the construction phase, all construction personnel, subcontractors and visitors will be equipped with active RFID tags. These allow precise monitoring of the number of people within the tunnel area in real time. The tags work with a range of more than 100 meters. This means that all persons in the tunnel are recognized, including those who are traveling in the tunnel at up to 20 km / h or who are later transported within the tunnel by wagons. Special portals at the tunnel entrance recognize the people, and in the event of danger, the number and position of the people to be evacuated are displayed on a fire brigade control station.

criticism

Critics reject the project because of its cost. According to the daily newspapers Die Presse und Kurier , the construction project including financing costs could cost over 10 billion euros. It was also criticized that the Austrian Southern Railway is not part of the transport routes ( TEN ) favored by the EU , and that the EU would therefore not participate in the financing. However, this criticism was contradicted by the Federal Ministry of Transport in the course of answering a parliamentary question; the Koralm railway is simply not a priority project, but has already been funded by TEN funds. It was also argued that the Koralm Tunnel would be pointless without the Semmering Base Tunnel ; However, the ÖBB is planning to build this tunnel by 2027. See also: Criticism of the Koralm Railway .

Corruption is suspected

In January 2020 the public prosecutor's office for business and corruption brought charges against 23 people for bribery, against donors and takers, in the course of the construction.

Individual evidence

  1. 2.8 billion euros for Styrian infrastructure on ORF-Steiermark from May 24, 2018, accessed on September 15, 2018
  2. a b c d e Johannes Fleckl-Ernst: Geodetic challenges in the “Koralm Tunnel” project . In: Felsbau , Heft 5/2010, pp. 315–321, ISSN  1866-0134 .
  3. Turntable March 2013, page 9
  4. a b Southern Railway Conference 2008: Koralm Tunnel - Semmering Base Tunnel . In: Tunnel , Issue 5/2009, pp. 50–54, ISSN  0722-6241 .
  5. a b c http://www.oebb.at/infrastructure/de/5_0_fuer_Generationen/5_4_Wir_bauen_fuer_Generationen/5_4_1_Schieneninfrastructure/Suedstrecke/Koralmbahn/Wettmannstaetten__St._Andrae/index.jsp
  6. Koralm tunnel stop: "Historic day"  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on ORF on May 21, 2010, accessed on May 21, 2010.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / steiermark.orf.at  
  7. Evaluation of rail projects  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / steiermark.orf.at  
  8. Voves: "There is no turning back". Kleine Zeitung , May 27, 2010, archived from the original on December 29, 2013 .;
  9. Construction of the Koralm tunnel now finally fixed  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / kaernten.orf.at  
  10. Koralm Tunnel: Financing confirmed ( memento from September 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), Kleine Zeitung from June 26, 2010
  11. ↑ The Koralm tunnel breakthrough in the south tube was successful on SN on August 14, 2018, accessed on August 14, 2018.
  12. Koralm tunnel: final breakthrough. ORF.at, June 17, 2020, accessed on June 18, 2020 .
  13. Kleine Zeitung article on the start-up celebration (January 29, 2013)
  14. Kleine Zeitung article on the completion of the 1st construction lot (October 4, 2013). Kleine Zeitung , October 4, 2013, archived from the original on October 19, 2013 .;
  15. ^ Successful penetration of the Koralm tunnel. In: kaernten.orf.at. August 14, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018 .
  16. ^ Breakthrough of the Koralm tunnel. In: futurezone.at. June 17, 2020, accessed June 17, 2020 .
  17. First main construction lot is completed ( Memento from October 18, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  18. Bures: Koralm tunnel fixed, but delayed ( memento of the original from July 13, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on ORF of October 23, 2010, accessed on October 23, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / steiermark.orf.at
  19. ^ Franz Kurzweil, Beat Furrer: Overhead conductor rail for high travel speeds . In: Elektro Bahnen , Issue 8, Volume 109, 2011, pp. 398–403.
  20. When billions seep away in the black hole
  21. Koralmbahn is twice as expensive, courier ( memento from October 6, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  22. Archived copy ( memento of the original from January 6, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.parlament.gv.at
  23. ORF article on the Semmering Base Tunnel (August 7, 2010)
  24. Bribery process relating to the Koralmbahn orf.at, January 7, 2020, accessed January 8, 2020.

Web links

Commons : Koralm tunnel  - collection of images, videos and audio files