Germany

Schlüchtern Tunnel: Adding Evacuation Tunnels without discontinuing Rail Traffic

South portals of the Old and New Schlüchtern Tunnels

New (a) and Old (b) Schlüchtern Tunnel with evacuation tunnels (the added cross-passages are dotted)

Opening in the segment bore

Drawing of the steel structure with

a = steel girder

b = steel plate

c = excavation edge

Photo showing an installed steel structure

Measurement cross-sections at the cross-passages (M = reflector, MQ = measurement cross-section, RS = evacuation tunnel)

Construction phases for linking up the evacuation tunnels

Crown cross-section with support bar

Completely driven evacuation tunnel

Producing the opening

Finished evacuation tunnel

Deformations while producing cross-passage VII in mm (a) calculated (b) measured

Immediately after the New Schlüchtern tunnel was completed a change in the safety regulations deemed it necessary to build 4 additional evacuation tunnels. These cross-passages were added to the segment-lined main tunnel from the outside without discontinuing rail traffic in order to avoid a prolonged construction period.

Starting Position

The Old Schlüchtern Tunnel is a rail tunnel on the main Frankfurt-Fulda line. It is 3,575 m long and was opened in 1914. Plans were made to completely renew the tunnel following extensive damage to the old masonry vault. Towards this end, it was first intended to produce a new tunnel parallel to the old one, then operate it with 2 tracks after completion and subsequently renovate the old tunnel. The New Schlüchtern Tunnel was driven with a shield from April 2007 and opened in April 2011. Fig. 1 shows the south portals of the 2 Schlüchtern tunnels. While driving the new bore, 3...

Dr.-Ing. Axel Städing, Dipl.-Ing. Falk D. Schindler, Ingenieurbüro Prof. Duddeck und Partner GmbH, Braunschweig/D; Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Gunnemann, DB Projektbau GmbH, Frankfurt/M./D