The base tunnel with a length of 57 km and an overlying rock mass of up to 2‘300 m is one of the longest railway tunnels in the world.

The base tunnel enable a train speed of Vmax of 250 km/h.

Project description

The Faido bifurcation, with a cross-sectional area of around 328 m2

Gotthard Base Tunnel has 2 parallel single track tunnels with a diameter of 9 – 13 m and a length of 57 km each, from Erstfeld to Bodio.

In total with all access tunnels cross-passages (at 312 m intervals) & shafts the lengths of sub terrain constructions adds to 157 km. and 2 multifunction stations (MFS) at Sedrun and Faido.

Subdivision of the entire stretch of 57 km in 5 sections with 3 intermediate headings: Erstfeld (7.7 km), Amsteg (11.3 km), Sedrun (8.6 km  incl. MFS), Faido (13.4 km  incl. MFS) and Bodio (16.0 km)

Landfill with excavated material at Buzza di Biasca

  • Alpine Geology, massive tectonic fault zones
  • Overburden up to 2‘300 m, ductile reinforcement & lining coping with radial deformations of up to 0.8 m 
  • High formation temperatures of up to 44°C
  • Long duration of the project, complex logistics 
  • Extreme requirements on quality & sustainability

Measuring vehicle to check the track position

  • All phases of the project from detailed project, building project, submission, and implementation project up to complete construction documentation and site supervision
  • Stability analysis and proof, geotechnical construction support, risk analysis
  • Test and commissioning of operational and safety installations in the entire tunnel

Project details

The section Sedrun is one out of five sections of the Gotthard Base Tunnel construction site. This section has a length of 6.8 km and a maximum overburden of 1550 m.

  • Access gallery 1 km length, cross-section 38 m2
  • 2 vertical shafts, depth approx. 800 m, diameter 8.6 m resp. 7.0 m
  • Inclined ventilation shaft, length 255 m, 14 m2
  • Multifunction station with emergency stops of 1.7 km lengths on the level of the single track tunnels
  • 2 single track tunnels of 6.9 km length each, cross-section 60 – 135 m2
  • Drill & blast heading for tunnels and MFS
     

The section Faido is one out of five sections of the Gotthard Base Tunnel construction site. This section has a length of 14.6 km long and a maximum overburden of 2300 m.

  • Access gallery 2.6 km length, slope 12.7 %, 63 m2
  • Multifunction station with emergency stops on the level of the single track tunnel, length 2.3 km, maximum excavation area 328 m2 (branch off)
  • 2 single track tunnels, 11.1 km each, 70 m 2
  • TBM heading for tunnels, drill & blast for MFS.
     

The construction section of Bodio is 16.6 km long and has a maximum overburden of 1’500 m

  • 2 single track tunnels, 16.0 km each, 63 m2, thereof soft ground / open cast section of approx. 800 m.
  • For rock section: TBM heading, partially drill & blast, pipe umbrella in soft ground section (105 m2)
     

Brochures

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Underground station for emergency stops, which is 1.7 km long, in the 57 km-long Gotthard Base Tunnel.

Multifunction Station Faido

The section Faido is one out of five sections of the Gotthard Base Tunnel construction site. This section has a length of 14.6 km long and a maximum overburden of 2’300 m.

Gotthard Base Tunnel Faido

The section Sedrun is one out of five sections of the Gotthard Base Tunnel construction site. This section has a length of 6.8 km and a maximum overburden of 1’550 m.

Gotthard Base Tunnel Sedrun

The contract section combination of Bodio/Faido represents two out of five construction lots

Contract Sections Bodio/Faido

Amber Technologies, construction of the new Gotthard Base Tunnel

Gotthard Base Tunnel Bodio/Faido

TBM Drives at the Gotthard Base Tunnel

Challenges in the Faido Section

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