Premium tubes from voestalpine Tubulars make tunnel excavation in the Semmering Base Tunnel safe

It will take less than two hours to travel by train from Vienna to Graz when one of the longest railroad tunnels—the Semmering Base Tunnel—is completed in 2030. Seamless tube specialist voestalpine Tubulars, based in Kindberg, is making a significant contribution to this project: high-strength mechanical tubes with properties which make them a worthy match for the complex rock formations make the process of tunnel excavation safe.

Ideal mechanical properties and premium quality for challenging geological conditions: our seamless tubes specialist is supplying high strength, quenched and tempered steel tubes via a partner for the Semmering Base Tunnel, one of the most important infrastructure projects in the heart of Europe. This 27-kilometer tunnel runs between Gloggnitz in Lower Austria and Mürzzuschlag in Styria, and after officially opening in 2030 will benefit both passenger and freight traffic. With a minimal gradient of 8.4‰, even heavy freight trains will be able to travel straight through the tunnel powered only by a single locomotive.

voestalpine Tubulars jacking pipes create stable, safe crossing of zones by means of excavator and blast driving

We make tunnel construction safe

The complex rock structure with its hard, soft, dry, and wet layers meant that innovative solutions were required. Thanks to voestalpine Tubulars expertise, the tunnel walls were securely stabilized using premium tubes made of high strength, quenched and tempered steel. Specified in three dimensions and different lengths, they are ideal for demanding tunnel construction projects which bore through complex rock formations. ÖBB-Infrastruktur provided a team from voestalpine Tubulars with valuable insights into the tunnel construction site on a tour accompanied by the Rail Cargo Group. During the tour, they explained what makes the construction site so complex. The rock layers and formations at Semmering are so challenging because sand, water, and rock form thin layers, such as you might find in a praline. This creates zones that need to be secured using a special injection drilling procedure before the green light can be given for further stable tunneling. Due to the internal and external pressures, this process step requires high strength tubes with ideal mechanics and absolutely no potential for plastic deformations: tubes from voestalpine Tubulars.

f.l.t.r.: Holger R. – Sales Manager Industrial Pipes, Alexandra Z. – Director Public Relations and Corporate Development, Kurt N. – Director Sales

voestalpine Tubulars jacking tubes provide a safe and stable way to excavate and blast through zones

“Tunneling would not be possible without this protection,” states Gernot Graller-Kettler, Spokesman of the voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG Management Board, confirming the essential function of the premium tubes. He also points out another customer requirement that was fully met:

Best mechanical characteristics and highest quality for challenging geological conditions.

Seamless tubes are not just for the energy industry

Premium tubes from voestalpine Tubulars are in high demand—not only in the energy industry, the commercial vehicle and automotive industries, and in the alternative energy sector, for hydrogen storage and transport, etc., but also for many construction industry applications. Whether for crane construction, anchor and geotechnical engineering, concrete pumps, or axles for construction machinery, these high-tech seamless tubes are indispensable.