The 8,806 m long Boßler Tunnel, which runs between portals at Aichelberg and Buch (Filstal valley) in the “Albaufstieg” section of the new Wendlingen − Ulm railway line, is the new line’s longest and most technically challenging.
The two single-track, circular-section main tubes with a mean gradient of 24.3 ‰ are linked at 500 m intervals by 17 cross passageways and are being driven using a combination of conventional and tunnel boring machine (TBM) techniques. With a bore diameter of 11.39 m, it is one of the largest mechanically driven railway tunnels in Germany.
The steep valley sides, ecological concerns and the ban on transporting materials in the Filstal were among the many reasons why the planning permission prohibited tunnelling operations in the valley. Therefore a 950 m long intermediate access tunnel connecting to the railway tunnel at km 44+500, was constructed at Umpfental to drive the two main tunnels. (Oliver Fischer)
The two single-track, circular-section main tubes with a mean gradient of 24.3 ‰ are linked at 500 m intervals by 17 cross passageways and are being driven using a combination of conventional and tunnel boring machine (TBM) techniques. With a bore diameter of 11.39 m, it is one of the largest mechanically driven railway tunnels in Germany.
The steep valley sides, ecological concerns and the ban on transporting materials in the Filstal were among the many reasons why the planning permission prohibited tunnelling operations in the valley. Therefore a 950 m long intermediate access tunnel connecting to the railway tunnel at km 44+500, was constructed at Umpfental to drive the two main tunnels. (Oliver Fischer)