The New Semmering Base Tunnel project - an interdisciplinary challenge / Das Projekt Semmering-Basistunnel neu - Eine interdisziplinäre Herausforderung

After receiving the commission to develop a New Semmering Base Tunnel in early 2005, the ÖBB-Infrastruktur (Bau) AG (Austrian Railways) undertook a three-year route selection process leading to the determination of the Pfaffensattel route as the best variant for the New Semmering Base Tunnel. Extensive design work on this route is underway at the moment in all disciplines. The aim is to produce the documentation to hand in for official approval by the early part of this year, and this should show a wide understanding and agreement of all project parties as well as technical quality.
Extensive geological and hydrogeological investigations, full-coverage surveying and the mapping and recording of all relevant environmental data over a wide area required a considerable effort. The interdependencies of the individual professions with the resulting extra design work, and working with the many affected landowners produced major challenges for the entire project team, which was only mastered through the personal commitment of all parties involved in the project and an increased application of extra resources.