The longest railway tunnel in the world, go to the next level
November 29, 2010
The entry into operation of the tunnel is planned for 2017, after almost 20 years of construction. The installation has two main single track tubes (totaling the aforementioned 57 km) and reaches a total length of tunnels of 153.5 km, including the sections of service and connection. The project aims to double the capacity of freight transport in the North-South axis of the Swiss country, up to 40 million tonnes, and shortening the journey an hour between the city of Zurich (Switzerland) and Milan (Italy)What would happen to be in 2 hours and 40 minutes. This progress will be possible thanks to a facility that will allow trains to pass through Alpine mountains at a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour.
The TAT Consortium, led by Alpine, began to work in 2009. On the basis of a contract of EUR 1.258 million, was awarded the Bodio (the South portal of the tunnel, starting point of the work), of 15 kilométros, and sections of the Fadio, of 14, two of the five sections in which the project was divided.
In addition to the drilling, the agreement also includes the laying of Rails, mounting of the train control system, signposting, lighting and the construction of telecommunications networks in two single track tunnels. In addition, technical systems on the adjacent open sections, North and South, will be installed to their connection with the existing rail
The route over Gotthard pass is one of the most important for crossing the Alps on the axis North-South of Europe. Both tunnels are designed to facilitate the crossing of the mountain chain and establish a direct path for high-speed trains.
The crash of 2001 in the Swiss town road tunnel
On 24 October 2001, a collision between two trucks created a fire in the Gotthard road tunnel. Eleven people were killed by smoke and gases, and there were many injured. The tunnel was closed for two months after the accident for repair and cleaning. Its narrowness prevented any maneuver to the truck which caused the accident and who invaded the lane opposite, causing a fire and the subsequent black smoke that reached by the vents. In addition, the vault of the South exit collapsed due to the high temperatures. The tunnel of Gottardo, whereby each time spend up 1,500 vehicles - 20% of whom are truck - was considered one of the safest in the Alps. But that incident, among others, put into question security in this type of structures.
"Following the various accidents in tunnels in the last two decades, fire protection has become one of the key parameters to be taken into account in the design phase of the tunnels, both in regards to its configuration (one or two tubes)"(, type of traffic, galleries of evacuation, etc.) "as to ventilation systems and all security equipment", explained to Interempresas José Luis sources-Cantillana, director of Aitemin (Association for research and the Industrial development of natural resources).
The conditions in Spain
The European directive of 2004 on tunnels forced to establish new rules, resulting in Spain in a Royal Decree of the Ministry of development in 2006. Spanish law establishes a series of minimum requirements of security according to the type of tunnel, its length or its density of traffic, among other aspects. Thus, for example, "forced to dispose of mechanical ventilation in any more than 200 meters long tunnel, it really is a level of demand much higher which exists in other European countries", he recalled sources-Cantillana.
As to the origin of the fires, the director of Aitemin referred also to the high emphasis on goods from trucks and other commercial vehicles: "materials which are built the tunnels (concrete, steel, etc.) are not flammable." The risk of fire comes mainly derived vehicles circulating in the tunnel, and the burden of transport. "In the case of road tunnels, involved fuel vehicles, oils, plastics and upholstery, tires..., which are all fuels". For sources-Cantillana, "while the traffic of dangerous goods through tunnels are often prohibited or regulated, there are many cases where burdens, not to be considered dangerous, pose a significant fire load, such as a transport of furniture"clothes or papers. "For example, in the fire in the tunnel of Mont Blanc in 1999 what burned was a refrigerated vehicle loaded with margarine".
With the current rules only oblige test fans and systems of smoke extraction, which are normally required to keep them running at least two hours at 400 ° C.
Where is the end of the tunnel
These are some of the colossal tunnels that exist in Europe:
- Tunnel for the Brenner pass (Italy/Austria), 55 km. The construction began in 2008 and it is estimated that they run out to 2025. It will circulate under the Alps.
- Tunnel of the channel (United Kingdom / France), 50 km. Built under the sea. It has three galleries, two of which run trains, as the Eurostar.
- Gibraltar tunnel (Spain/Morocco), 39 kilometres. It is under consideration. It is estimated that it could unite two continents in 30 minutes.
- (Switzerland), almost 35 km Lötschberg base tunnel. It allows to pass through the Alps between the cantons of Berne and Valais. It was the first element of the project 'alp transit', adopted in 1994 by the Swiss Federation to transfer heavy traffic from the roads to the trains.
- Koralm tunnel (Austria), 33 kilometres. He is expected to come into operation in 2016.
- Tunnel of Guadarrama (Spain), 28 km. Pass under the Sierra de Guadarrama and is the longest in Spain. It is part of Segovia - Valladolid high-speed rail line.
