The Brenner Base Tunnel - a new link through the Alps

13 Cross section excavation by blasting excavation stabilization waterproofing inner shell clearance water pipe – fire extinguishing system cable conduit pier wall drainage track drainage ballastless track abutment Tunnel boring machines such as those being used in the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel are, depending on the prevailing requirements, approximately 180 – 400 metres long and consist of a drilling head and a trailing structure. The advantage of mechanical tunnelling is its high daily advance rate. Working with the TBM also offers the workers a relatively high standard of occupational safety. The most important part of the TBM, which is really an underground logistics factory, is the drill head. This has a diameter of about ten meters and consists of several drilling bits that press against the rocks and break them into small pieces. The trailing structure behind the drilling head is used to supply the excavation and remove the excavated material. The machine also consists of rock stabilisation, ventilation and dust collection equipment. Mechanical excavation steering cabin lifting crane machinery for the installation of steel grilles cutting head gripper conveyor belt concrete spraying machine Excavation using a tunnel boring machine (TBM)