Porr and Rhomberg to lay slab track in Austria’s Koralm tunnel

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Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has awarded the railway infrastructure contract for the Koralm tunnel to the ‘ARGE FF Koralm’ joint venture.

The Koralm Tunnel, under construction under the Koralpe mountain range in Austria, lies on the 130km (81 mile) Koralm railway that will link Graz with Klagenfurt.

Under this contract, ARGE partners Porr Bau and Rhomberg Bahntechnik will commence construction of the 34.1-kilometre long section through the tunnel (which is itself 32.9km long) in May 2021. The line is due to open in 2025.

Porr will take the technical lead on the contract while Rhomberg Bahntechnik will be responsible for the commercial management.

A key element of the contract, worth around €160 million, is the construction of almost 66km of slab track in the tunnel.

In addition, the contact includes sections of ballasted track leading to both tunnel portals, as well as preliminary work for the telecommunications system, construction of the ventilation buildings at the east and west portals, completion of the east portal and construction of the west portal.

The contract also calls for construction of noise barriers and fall protection barriers, upgrading drainage and road construction work on the L145.

Finally, the joint venture will be responsible for the supply and installation of the overhead contact line (OLE) as well as all temporary works up until commissioning in 2025.

Johannes Fürst, head of the railway department at Porr, said: “It makes us proud to contribute to the success of this important infrastructure project for Austria with our expertise.”

Robert Kumpusch, managing director of Rhomberg Bahntechnik, said: “We are especially pleased to be implementing a project, together with the ÖBB, that promises a particularly sustainable and high-quality result, thanks to innovative ideas and an economic approach.”

Both partners will draw on their know-how and experience to complete the project on schedule, within budget and to the client’s full satisfaction.

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