21 MARCH 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Turning Old Tunnels Into New Ones Adapted from Information by Herrenknecht Tunneling Systems In the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, hundreds of railway tunnels were built in Europe, which are largely still in operation today. Two of Lahn Valley Railway’s tunnels in Germany will undergo enlargement, increasing the cross-sectional radius by nearly seven feet, bringing them up to current standards. To electrify the lines, accommodate larger track gauges and faster trains, comply with current safety standards, or replace the tunnel lining due to age, it is necessary to enlarge the tunnel profile. The Tunnel Enlargement System (TES), developed by Herrenknecht, facilitates tunnel renewal while maintaining ongoing rail operations. Initially, existing tracks are removed, and a temporary track is placed within the existing tube to ensure uninterrupted rail traffic safety. The 151-foot-long, 297-ton TES, with a 40-foot diameter, will traverse the Fachingen and Cramberg tunnels on specially laid foundations and rails. As the tunnel is excavated and enlarged, the TES moves forward incrementally, acting as a protective shield that isolates construction work from active rail traffic. The TES machines are capable of performing conventional excavation and support tasks, including breaking out old masonry walls, excavating rock through chiseling or blasting, and removing material. Following each drilling and blasting round, temporary shotcrete support is applied and anchors are used to stabilize the rock. Finally, reinforcement mesh, steel arches, and shotcrete form the initial support, with in situ concrete used for the final tunnel lining in a second construction phase. Incorporating the consortium’s expertise from past projects, the TES design on the Lahn Valley Railway aims to upgrade the connection between Spain and France’s rail networks through the renovated tunnel. TES during ongoing rail operations. CONST www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 SERVING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Serving the Drilling Industry
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