The Tunnelling Podcast

To look at a map of Europe is to see a disconnected landmass. Sometimes described as a ‘peninsula of peninsulas’, the world’s second smallest continent is naturally divided.

Even from the centre, it is not always easy to travel to the extremes. Take the Alps for example, since ancient times, they have proven to be a formidable barrier to even the most committed and well-supplied.

Enter the base tunnel. A low-gradient, extremely long tunnel that (as its name suggests) makes a mockery of Alpine topography by traversing beneath it. In this episode we look at the latest and greatest – Brenner.

Guests

David Unteregger, Deputy Section Lead – Austria, Brenner Base Tunnel

Antonio Voza, Site Manager – Mules (Italy), Brenner Base Tunnel

Resources

For more information on the lots and construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel, click here

There are up to 600 disused railway tunnels dotted around the British countryside. Some of these find new life as pedestrian tunnels or storage facilities. This week we are examining the Catesby Tunnel in Northamptonshire, which was perfect for a particularly unusual revamp.

Photo credit: Ian Rob / Catesby Tunnel-North Portal

Resources

For more information on the vehicle test facility, click here

Frustrated with the costs of tunnelling and Hyperloop’s resulting lack of viability, Elon Musk threw down the gauntlet to the tunnelling industry and asked if it could innovate to bring advance rates up to the speed of a snail.

In this episode we speak to one of the entrants of the ‘Not a Boring Competition’, Swissloop Tunnelling about their effort: the Groundhog Alpha machine. 

The team put faith in a printed polymer lining system, which necessitates continuous advance. Although they did not win the competition, they walked away with the Innovation and Design Award.

Guest

Luca Entremont, Swissloop Tunnelling, ETH Zurich

Resources

For another episode we produced relating to Hyperloop, click here

For more information on Swissloop Tunnelling, click here

This week’s episode looks at the long-term expansion plans for the Second Avenue Subway in New York City, as it moves to the final planning phase. The project was first proposed nearly 100 years ago, are the 2020s the decade it is finally going to get off the ground?

Photo credit: MTA

For The Tunnelling Podcast’s first “spotlight” episode on waterproofing, we’re looking at the tunnel seals supplied by Trelleborg’s marine and infrastructure operation for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, the world’s longest immersed tunnel for both vehicles and trains. 

Whatever happened to the Whittaker TBM once deployed in Folkstone Warren, in Kent? This week we look at the intriguing history of this 100 year old machine…

Guest

Dr Oliver Carpenter, Curator of Infrastructure and Built Environment, The Science Museum

Photo credit: The Science Museum

A few years ago, two men met to discuss an idea they’d had for a tidal energy project. The idea called for an array of tunnels, rather than the more traditional lagoons. But essentially as the tide comes in and goes out, you can draw the energy off it.

It was a fantastic idea, but there was one tiny detail standing in the way of the project. The tunnels. The men were told that, even though they needed identical tunnels in the hundreds, there was no cost saving per drive. 

All of a sudden, they had a new challenge on their desks. This episode is about the result. The hyperTunnel system, which builds the tunnel prior to excavation, and relies on swarms of robots to do the work of thousands.

Guests

Patrick Lane-Nott, Director of Engineering, hyperTunnel

Resources

For a video explaining the HyperTunnel process, click here

In this week’s tunnelling episode we look at the challenges Texas faces to its water supply and how the recently awarded Section 19 Long Tunnel Crossing, a critical part of the Integrated Pipeline Project, will help bring much-needed water to North Texas.

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has reached the half-way mark for completing its Circle Line Stage 6, which closes the Circle Line loop by connecting HarbourFront to Marina Bay stations. We take a look at the recently completed tunnelling works for CCL6.