Alptransit, work at full steam in the world’s longest tunnel

The works in the S. Gottardo and Ceneri tunnels go ahead faster and faster. Alptransit let us know that in the S.Gottardo tunnel, between Erstfeld and Sedrun , the concrete slab tracks have been placed in both tunnels. On the whole, the company explains, “more than 40% of the railway has been installed.” As the works’ program has foreseen, in December 2013, the test line between Faido and the southern part of Bodio will be operative.

"An important goal," continues Alptransit within the starting of the longest tunnel in the world on December 2016.  In the base tunnel of Ceneri more than 60 per cent of the course has been dug.

Timing and details of the work- In these days the base tunnel of St. Gottardo between Erstfeld and Sedrun ( almost 20 km) is open in both tunnels on definitive tracks. This kind of work will be now executed also in the section between Sedrun and Faido. Afterwards also the contact line will be installed. At the same time of the installation of the railway equipment also the last work of raw construction are executed. In the West part of the base tunnel of St. Gottardo, between Faido and the South part, preliminary work are going on for the trial track.

In December 2013, on a 16 kilometres long line equipped with a railway technique, there will be some tests on the line which will reach 230 km/h. “This stage is very important in view of the tests, explains Renzo Simoni, chairman of AlpTransit San Gottardo SA. In this way the complex collaboration between the rail process and the systems of the Tunnel of San Gottardo may be tested.”

In Ceneri tunnel, more than 60% has been excavated, of the total 40 km of the tunnel.

Alp Transit San Gottardo SA is feeling confidence that the Ceneri Tunnel will be operative in 2019.