High-performance conventional tunnelling - The Bibra Tunnel on project VDE 8, Germany / Konventioneller Hochleistungsvortrieb - Der Bibratunnel im Projekt VDE 8, Deutschland

The 123 km long Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle high speed train link connects in the north the cities of Berlin and Munich with Verona in the South as part of the EU's Trans-Europe Network. The project which is designed for a top speed of 300 km/h is being managed by DB Projekt Bau, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn. The total cost of this section between Berlin and Munich including tunnels and bridges is estimated at 13 Mrd. Euro. On the project section VDE 8.2 between Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle three tunnels are being built with a total length of 15.4 km, each composed of two single track tubes with centers approx. 25 m apart. One tunnel is being executed by mechanized tunnelling, the two others by conventional drill and blast method. The longer of these two - the Bibra tunnel with a length of 6,466 m was awarded in January 2008 to the by Marti Tunnelbau AG lead J.V. for 209 m. Euro.
Concerning the implemented equipment - great emphasis is being put onto machines to increase the efficiency of the production as well as the handling of the muck by crushing the blasted material in the tunnel and transport it by conveyor belt systems with minimal emissions out of the tunnel to the final placement area.