The H53 Pfons-Brenner section of the Brenner Base Tunnel project has begun receiving its first tunnel segments at the Steinach am Brenner site.
Due to space constraints at the H53 site, on-site manufacturing of these segments was not feasible. Instead, the segments are being produced by Max Bögl, a company based in Sengenthal, Bavaria. The total production will exceed 54,000 segments, all of which will be transported to the site by rail, delivered by Rail Cargo Group all the way to the construction site. This approach minimizes the need for road transport and reduces environmental impact.
These segments will be installed by two tunnel boring machines (TBMs), Wilma and Olga, which are set to begin excavation in September 2024. Each machine will tunnel approximately 7.5 kilometers northward.
The H53 section is a significant part of the Brenner Base Tunnel project, the largest construction lot in Austria’s portion of the tunnel. It plays a vital role in connecting Austria and Italy through one of the world’s longest underground railways.
Currently, preparations are underway for the assembly of the TBMs. The ongoing delivery of the segments by rail is a key logistical operation, involving the transport of 530,000 tons of material.
As the project advances, these segments will be essential in forming the tunnel's structure, paving the way for the main tunneling operations expected to start later this year.
