One of the last two TBMs working on the Brenner Base Tunnel is expected to complete its drive soon.
Following the breakthrough on July 28 that connected Italy and Austria, only two short tunnel sections remain on the H53 Pfons-Brenner construction lot,
TBMs Wilma and Olga – the last of nine TBMs deployed on the railway project – are excavating this final section and Wilma has less than 100m to complete to reach the border with the neighbouring construction Lot H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons.
The 10.37m-diameter Herrenknecht machine is driving a 7.4km section towards Innsbruck along the west main tunnel tube. During excavation TBM Wilma has crossed the Heidi and Jana fault zones and installed approximately 23,000 lining segments, corresponding to more than 3,800 rings.
TBM Olga, which is working in the east main tube, is expected to break through before the end of the year, marking completion of excavation of the main tunnel tubes.
ARGE H53 consortium of Porr and Martin launched the two TBMs in September 2024.
In July, the consortium made the historic breakthrough to connect the western and eastern main tunnel tubes of construction Lot H53 Pfons–Brenner with the completed main tunnel tubes of the Italian construction Lot H61 Mauls 2–3.
The 64km Brenner Base Tunnel will be the world’s longest rail tunnel. It will connect the cities of Fortezza in Italy and Innsbruck in Austria. Passenger trains will travel at speeds of up to 250km/h, cutting travel time from the current 80 minutes to 25 minutes.
