Karlsruhe, 31.10.2007. With the breakthrough of the 9,385-meter-long Katzenberg Tunnel, another important step has now been taken in the expansion and new construction of the Karlsruhe-Basel rail line.
The structure is currently the largest tunnel project in Germany. The twin-tube Katzenberg Tunnel, which runs between Bad Bellingen and Efringen-Kirchen, straightens the alignment of the rail line in the area of the mountain formation known as the "Isteiner Klotz". TechnoBochum GmbH, a subsidiary of Masterflex AG that specializes in tunnel construction and operates internationally, is supplying hoses, fittings and accessories for this challenging project.
The breakthrough is an important building block on the way to completing one of the most modern rail tunnels in Europe. In the future, higher speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and thus shorter travel times will be possible. The project was launched in 2003. Completion of the tunnel shell is scheduled for the end of 2008, and commissioning of the tunnel with its link to the existing Rhine Valley railroad is planned for 2012.