THE LOTSCHBERG RAILWAY BASE TUNNEL

In 1991, the Swiss government announced a major rail network project t o establish north-south high capacity rail links across the Alps. The Lotschberg base tunnel is a key component of this endeavour. It will c onnect the Swiss capital city of Bern to the Rhone valley, thus ensuri ng a liaison between. northern Europe and Italy via the existing Simpl on tunnel. The tunnel project encompasses two parallel single track tu bes measuring approximately 30 Km each. The project also includes true intermediate access tunnels with underground emergency stat-ions and cross-over links. The selection of the construction methods (excavatio n and support) is presented together with the measures foreseen for cr ossing typical geologic conditions. The role of the project engineer a nd that of the project geologist in the selection of the excavation mo des and support requirements is discussed. The construction of the bas e tunnel is scheduled for 1998 and its completion for rail traffic is foreseen for 2006. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.