Rail conquers the Alps

Railway Gazette International | May 2016 9
Project GOTTHARD BASE TUNNEL
Photo: AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd
detailed checks to determine if individual
components and installations
functioned correctly. It was then
necessary to check that all the components
interacted correctly with the
tunnel control technology. Only then
could the ‘bedding-in’ process start.
For some operational equipment it
was possible to complete the tests during
installation.
Soon after the first test run on October
1 2015 a series of trials began
using ETCS Level 2, which has been
installed through the GBT and on the
approach routes. The tunnel radio and
the digital GSM-R radio system were
in the meantime checked by SBB’s radio
test train.
In November and December 2015 a
series of high speed tests was carried
out. The maximum speed was progressively
raised, culminating in a peak
figure of 275 km/h. This maximum
was achieved for the first time during
a trial run through the eastern running
tunnel on the night of November 8-9
using the ICE-S train on hire from
Germany.
High speed trials in the Gotthard Base Tunnel
were conducted during November and
December 2015 using the ICE-S test train
on hire from Deutsche Bahn. This set a new
Swiss record when it 274∙5 km/h at 02.15 on
November 17 2015 (right).
Open and shut.
Mobile doors
mounted on special
wagons will seal the
tunnel at specific
locations to avoid
pressure changes
and to ensure good
air quality when
maintenance work is
in progress.
In the period from October 2015
until January 2016 the test programme
focused on simulation of operations in
normal and degraded conditions with
various incidents being staged. This
process reached a climax on January
25-26 in the so-called Big Test in
which eight trains were involved in a
series of incidents at the same time.
On February 6 2016 tests were undertaken
with a 1 500 m long freight
train. This consisted of 76 wagons of
different types; flat wagons, vans with
telescopic sliding roofs and empty
container wagons. Weighing 2 216
tonnes, the train was hauled by three
Type Re620 locomotives, one at each
end and one marshalled in mid-train.
Various runs were made to determine
if such a long train could operate satisfactorily
through the GBT using
ETCS Level 2.
Trial running
SBB is responsible for the trial runs,
which are geared to implementation of
the various operating procedures in different
situations and in realistic conditions.
They are also designed to test the
arrangements for operations, interventions
and maintenance, starting with
Photos: AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd