Switzerland: Tracklaying Under Way in Ceneri Base Tunnel
Installation of the railway infrastructure systems has begun in the east tube of the Ceneri Base Tunnel, southern Switzerland.
The Ceneri Base Tunnel will be ready for scheduled train services by 2020.
Installation of Railway Infrastructure Systems
The 15.4-kilometres long base tunnel between Camorino and Vezia will be equipped with the railway infrastructure systems such as the track, overhead conductor, tractive and general electric-power supply, telecommunication and safety systems as well as control systems.
Since autumn 2016, work on the railway systems installation site at Camorino has been progressing at full speed. On the approximately 60,000-square-metres site, control systems, halls, workshops and offices have been erected as the logistical base for installation of the railway infrastructure systems.
Tracklaying
At Vigana, by the north portal of the Ceneri Base Tunnel in the east tube, installation of the railway infrastructure systems has begun with laying of the first section of ballastless track. Since the work began, two hundred metres of track have already been laid. Their quality-control tests are now being performed. When these have been completed, the track-installation specialists can continue with installation of the ballastless track in the direction of the south portal at Vezia. Also in the west tube, work will soon begin on laying an auxiliary track. At peak times, up to 200 people will be involved in installing the railway infrastructure systems in the Ceneri Base Tunnel.
Electro-Mechanical Equipment
Laying of the track will be followed by mounting of the overhead conductor and catenary in the ceiling of the tunnel and installation of the electrical systems for the power supply to the railway systems as well as to other tunnel-specific equipment and the telecommunication, control and safety systems. Test operation will start in the spring of 2020 under the leadership of AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd. The complex interaction of all the systems in the Ceneri Base Tunnel will then be tested. The subsequent trial operation will take place under the principal responsibility of Swiss Federal Railways. According to the construction programme, the Ceneri Base Tunnel will be ready for scheduled train services in December 2020.
Original article © AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd.
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