Vibration protection solution for world’s longest railway tunnel launched

Getzner has developed a special vibration protection measure to ensure passenger comfort and durability of the track in the world’s longest railway tunnel. Until the opening in June 2016, testing is in full swing.

Once it opens in June, 250 trains travelling at speeds of up to 250 km/h (approximately ten trains per hour) will use the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which connects Swiss municipalities Erstfeld and Bodio. To guarantee high availability and a long service life for the railway superstructure despite the significant loads, Getzner Werkstoffe has been developing a special vibration protection measure over the last few years. After all, the demands for this project are particularly high: when the tunnel is in frequent use, ambient temperatures can reach up to 40°C and humidity can be as high as 70%.

The high speeds of the trains also exert strong pressure and suction forces, which put the material under above-average stress. Elastic Sylodyn bearings for the single block sleepers and high-speed turnouts have been installed in both tunnel tubes for the slab track and on sections of the approach routes. “The vibration protection measure reduces vibrations, and therefore wear of the superstructure components, minimising the maintenance required on the track,” explains Juergen Rainalter, Chief Executive Officer of Getzner. This project imposed very high demands on the railway technology in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, because all the materials have to deliver excellent performance over the entire planned service life of the tunnel.