A project to modernise the Wrocław – Jelenia Góra railway line is being completed using innovative solutions from VMT. The 157-year-old railway tunnel, which is undergoing significant expansion, widening and renovation, is a shining example of the rich history and significance of the railway industry. As part of the final preparations for the work the vault tunnel shutter must be accurately positioned, a task ideally suited to VMT’s innovative TUnIS Positioning Shutter system.
Located near Trzcińsko, Rohrlach, the railway tunnel lies on the Wrocław/Breslau – Jelenia Góra/Hbf (Rsgb) line. Over recent months PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. has been carrying out the refurbishment works as part of the rail operator’s plans to use modern solutions to increase capacity of the railway. As a result, the Wrocław – Jelenia Góra line will have more trains travelling faster through the widened and renovated tunnel. The overall cost for works is approximately PLN 130 million (€29 million).
Innovative tunnel-in-tunnel with mobile formwork technique
The existing tunnel was renovated using a specialised Tunnel Extension Machine (TEM) named ‘Katarzyna’, which allowed rail services to continue during the expansion works. By November 2023, ‘Katarzyna’ had completed operations covering 300m of the tunnel, facilitating the safe passage of over 30 trains daily with minimal disruption to rail traffic. The next project phase will involve track closures and the introduction of rail replacement services. The TEM will be dismantled once its work is completed and the tunnel will undergo final preparations for full rail services using the mobile formwork technique; operating in 10m segments to prepare the final tunnel shutter.
Accelerated workflow and digitalisation
To enable precision positioning of the vault tunnel shutter, we offered our new camera-based positioning system to the customer. TUnIS Positioning Shutter is specifically designed to overcome challenges posed by this sort of project, such as the limited operational space and the need for high-precision measurements. Before implementation, we verified the system’s suitability, ensuring that it could function effectively in these conditions and that the operators were ready to use this new, unfamiliar technology.
Fortunately, the system proved to be suitable for the challenging project and in addition to accurately positioning the vault tunnel shutter, it offered additional advantage to the site team:
- Accelerated Workflow
Eliminates the need to set up a total station or other iterative measuring processes. - Digitalisation
No paperwork or rework in the office is required. - Monitoring
Tracks the shutter’s position throughout the process, including during the pouring phase.
In this area of tunnelling, smart data model integration plays a crucial role. It supports forward-looking work by providing real-time data and insights, enabling informed decisions and adjustments as required. Thanks to VMT, conventional tunnelling is anything but conventional.