View Point:Layout 1 19/5/08 11:09 Page 1
VIEWPOINT
Seeing the
light at the end
of the tunnel
It is becoming more and more common in order for projects to be finished on time Anna, the first machine. This impressive
new developments of European railway and of course within budget. work task shows the importance of tunnel
infrastructure for new tracks to be A recent success story to highlight this boring machines and their important job
constructed through tunnels or sections view is the boring of the Citytunnel in for developing rail infrastructure.
of tunnels. Malmö, Sweden. The Citytunnel project In a recent statement, Örjan Larsson,
The European landscape and terrain is consists of 17km of railway connecting Project Manager for the Citytunnel Project
often rugged and mountainous, especially Malmö Central Station with the Öresund commented, “We are happy to be
in Northern European countries, and somewhat ahead of schedule and on
a number of recent tunneling projects budget, but a lot of work remains.”
showcase this important construction This comment from Mr. Larsson
method to increase track kilometres highlights the major work that
and to enhance both passenger and surrounds constructing tunnels and
rail freight operations – an imperative the effort that is attached.
aspect for the development of the Staying in Sweden, another
European rail industry. major tunneling project is The City
Almost every European country is Line in Stockholm, which is being
constructing tunneling projects, or is constructed in order to solve the
at least planning to. Each country capacity problem for rail traffic
throughout Europe is now recognising through the Swedish city.
the ever-increasing importance of our Rail tunneling projects are not
industry and the growing competition cheap. For example, the total
between other transport modes – construction of The City Line is
especially air and road. approximately SEK 16 billion, and is
So, by constructing tunnels to expected to become operational in
increase passenger frequency and 2017. This high profile project is
journey times and enhancing rail another which intends to provide
Tunnel boring machine Katrin, used for the Citytunnel
freight operations, tunneling is surely project in Malmö, Sweden Photo Credit: Klas Andersson long-term development and for
one of the most important aspects of creating an attractive and efficient
today’s modern rail infrastructure. transport system for a city which
Of course, there are many aspects to Bridge, as well as linking up the Scania needs to meet the demands and
tunneling which complete the whole railway network and increasing rail traffic requirements of the future.
process. Tunnel boring is obviously one capacity for the future. So, with the success of current
major characteristic and some recent In April 2008, the tunnel boring tunneling projects, and those that are
projects across Europe show that by using machine named ‘Katrin’ broke through the planned for the near future, European
impressive and innovative tunnel boring concrete wall at Malmö C which concluded railway infrastructure is set to become
machines, and by project managing the one of the most difficult tasks of the even more continuous in its performance.
process efficiently, tunnels can be bored Citytunnel project. What is more, Katrin’s
within impressive amounts of time – breakthrough took place approximately Craig Waters
crucial to the demanding deadlines in one month after the break through for Commissioning Editor
www.europeanrailwayreview.com EUROPEAN RAILWAY REVIEW
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ISSUE 3
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2008 13
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