ÖBB Annual Report 2023

81 Group Management Report Österreichische Bundesbahnen-Holding Aktiengesellschaft Consolidated Financial Statements | Group Management Report 36 The tunnel boring machines for driving southwards from the Ahrental valley began in May and June 2023 in the “H41 Sillschlucht-Pfons“ construction section. The official commissioning ceremony for the two TBMs (tunnel boring machines) took place at the end of June 2023. The dividing wall in the east and west connecting tunnels and the carriageway floor in the side corridors (safety corridor) were constructed. The construction site facilities were also supplemented by conveyor belt systems from underground to the Ahrental landfill and the Padastertal landfill. A temporary production hall was erected for the manufacture of segments (precast concrete parts for the inner shell). A new bridge was built over the A13 motorway to handle construction site traffic. The work on this construction lot is now 15% complete. In the “H52 Hochstegen“ construction lot, the so-called “Hochstegen fault zone“ was completely penetrated during the excavation of the exploratory tunnel and the injection and sealing measures were carried out there. An approx. 9 km long conveyor belt was installed in the exploratory tunnel in a northerly direction up to the “H41 Sillschlucht- Pfons“ construction lot. This ensures the underground transport of the excavated material from construction lot H41 to the landfill in Padastertal. An auxiliary support point was set up in the area of the raised walkway zone from the exploratory tunnel to the main tunnel tubes and the St. Jodok transfer point. The work on the construction lot is 75% complete. The contract for the “H53 Pfons-Brenner“ construction lot was awarded on 04.04.2023. This contract was awarded for the tunnelling work on the last remaining construction lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel. The contractual start of construction began on 04.05.2023. This also initiated the ordering process for the two tunnel boring machines for this construction lot. The TBMs are expected to start the drivage northwards in autumn 2024. Work on both construction sites on Italian territory is well advanced. In the “H61 Mauls 2-3“ construction lot, the “Virginia“ tunnel boring machine reached its destination at the Brenner Pass in March. The TBM in a main tunnel has successfully completed tunnelling for the first time by reaching the construction lot limit. The second TBM “Flavia“ has reached a fault zone. Activities to overcome the fault zone are in progress. The structures for the “H71 Eisack undercrossing“ construction lot were completed and work began on dismantling the construction site and renaturalisation. The tendering process for the planning services for the railway equipment for the Brenner Base Tunnel is ongoing as at the statement of financial position date – planning work is expected to commence in the course of 2024 (depending on the conclusion of the tendering process). MR36 |