Getzner Werkstoffe provides expertise for Gotthard tunnel construction

Vorarlberg firm supplies track support for the world’s longest railway tunnel

19.11.09

Buers. Vorarlberg vibration expert Getzner Werkstoffe is supplying the elastic support for the railway line in the Gotthard base tunnel. The EUR 3 million project further underscores Getzner's leadership on the vibration isolation market. When completed, the Gotthard will be the longest in the world; it is expected to enter service in 2017.

The flagship Gotthard base tunnel currently under construction in Switzerland will be completed with the help of know-how from Vorarlberg: Bürs-based Getzner Werkstoffe is supplying 390,000 sleeper base pads for what will be the longest tunnel in the world. The base pads are designed to reduce vibrations from trains travelling over the rails. The main objective of the project is to shift heavy-load traffic from the motorway to the railway.

"As the north-south link to Italy is designed for heavy traffic, our outstanding references and in particular the high quality and durability of our materials played a key role in securing the contract. The tunnel project will greatly enhance travel and transportation options in Europe. Securing such a significant contract is further testimony to our expertise and our position as a world leader in vibration isolation", says Markus Tecklenburg, head of Getzner's Projects and Systems business unit. The 57-tunnel kilometre tunnel is scheduled to enter service in 2017.

The soft shoe

Since high material stress is major requirement for the tunnel’s planners, the proposed elastic products had to fulfil several criteria: "For example, our polyurethane products had to demonstrate high continuous load stress capabilities. Our tried-and-tested solutions were a key factor in the tendering process, and our high delivery capacity speaks for itself," explains Getzner Managing Director Roland Pfefferkorn. Technology from Getzner — the world leader in the railway sector — will enable this stretch of the railway to handle high traffic loads and speeds of up to 200 km/h. Resilient base plates will be installed beneath the railway sleepers. The prefabricated, resilient booted sleepers are set into the concrete rail bed.

Lötschberg base tunnel — a symbol of outstanding expertise

The negotiations for the Gotthard base tunnel project started six years ago. Tendering companies were required to demonstrate their experience on the basis of completed projects. Getzner Werkstoffe’s reference was the Lötschberg base tunnel: a 35 kilometre rail tunnel which opened in 2007 and leads to the Gotthard tunnel. Getzner’s major role in the completion of the Zimmerberg base tunnel was another convincing argument. This rail tunnel completes the Gotthard base tunnel in the north and provides improved connections to the Zurich traffic hub.

From road to rail

The Gotthard base tunnel is part of the major Swiss New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) project. The project includes a total of nine rail links throughout Switzerland, which will significantly increase north-south rail cargo capacity. Getzner Werkstoffe is involved in almost all of the projects which have been put out to tender, including the Zimmerberg, Lötschberg and Gotthard tunnels.

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Railway vibration isolation

Getzner’s base pads will ensure efficient elasticity in the Gotthard base tunnel rail system. "The sleepers set into the concrete rail bed are mounted on our elastic material, Sylodyn. This allows us to achieve a uniform bending of the rails under the load from the train, which in turn makes the line suitable for high speeds. The special polyurethane pads isolate vibrations resulting from vehicles travelling on the track system. That translates into increased ride comfort and reduced wear on both the trains and the track", explains Markus Tecklenburg.

NRLA — improving north-south rail transit

All three projects — the Gotthard base tunnel, Zimmerberg base tunnel and the Lötschberg base tunnel — are part of the NRLA project, which is aimed at improving north-south rail transit. Goods transportation from Germany and France to Italy and back will benefit from the significant improvements in transport speeds and capacities resulting from the Gotthard tunnel. The Gotthard base tunnel will also provide a major economic boost for central Europe, and Switzerland in particular.

Current railway sector reference projects – LVT System (selected projects):

Gautrain, South Africa: Rail link between Johannesburg, Pretoria and Johannesburg International Airport (under construction)
Malmö City Tunnel: Rail link and tunnel in Malmö, Sweden, connecting rail services from Söderslätt with the Öresund line (under construction)
Culver Viaduct, New York: Subway in Brooklyn, New York (under construction)
East London line: Expansion of the existing East London line north from Shoreditch High Street to Dalston Junction (under construction)

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Getzner Werkstoffe provides expertise for Gotthard tunnel construction

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