Fire in the Simplon Tunnel

Novel Redevelopment and
Investigation of Causes

The almost 20 km long Simplon Tunnel between Switzerland and Italy was at the time the world’s longest rail tunnel when it was opened with 2 tracks in 1922 and complied with the latest standards (2 bores with changeover and electric operation). Extensive redevelopment and renovation work is to be carried out between 2012 and 2014. The damage resulting from the fire in mid-2011 resulting in a 5-month long closure of one track over half its length had to be repaired by the time the new timetable came into force (December 11, 2011). This aspect together with determining the cause of the fire will...

Related articles:

Issue 07/2012 Switzerland

Redeveloping the Simplon Tunnel

The 19.80 km long Simplon Tunnel between Brig/CH and Iselle/I possesses 2 single-track bores, which are connected by 46 cross-passages set roughly 500 m apart and 2 sets of points in the middle of the...

more
Issue 05/2012 Fire Protection Mortar

Adler Tunnel – Renovation with Fire Protection

Requirements The reinforced concrete bars and the rock anchor heads had to be protected for 60 minutes in accordance with the ISO 834 fire curve in the event of fire so that the tunnel inner shell...

more
Issue 06/2014 Switzerland

Self-Rescue in the Simplon Tunnel

The 19.8 km long Simplon Tunnel (completed in 1922) between Bries (Switzerland) and Iselle (Italy) possesses two single-track bores with two sets of points at the centre of the tunnel and...

more
Issue 03/2018

Maroggia Tunnel: Cross-Section Enlargement with a new Method

1 Introduction The Maroggia Tunnel belonging to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is located in the Canton of Ticino on the route between Bellinzona and Chiasso. The twin-track rail tunnel has been...

more
Issue 01/2012 IUT-Seminar

Tunnel Rehabilitation, Maintenance and Renovation – a Topic for the Future

The 6th Tunnel Fair on “Innovation Underground” (IUT ‘11) [1] (September 14/15, 2011) held in the vicinity of Sargans (some 3,000 visitors) provided a further highlight with its seminar “Tunnel...

more