KATZENBERG TUNNEL

THE PROJECT AND ITS REQUIREMENT

The German Federal Traffic Forecast predicts that some 60 longdistance trains, more than 100 local trains and around 300 freight trains will pass through the Katzenberg Tunnel every 24 hours by 2025. This is equal to one train every three minutes. More than 70 million tons of load are expected to be transported along the route every year, causing vibrations and structure-borne noise in
the buildings above the tunnel.
 
The task was the creation of an effective elastic track bearing. For this purpose, elastic track bed mats are installed beneath and on the sides of the rigid track, which decouple the track from the supporting structure.
This effectively reduces the vibrations caused by contact between wheels and rails.

THE SOLUTION

Implementation of a high-quality mass-spring system from Calenberg: The versatile USM 1000 W was laid lengthwise in strips 640 mm wide. The gaps between the strips were covered with fibre cement slabs and the longitudinal and crosswise joints were sealed before the track supporting layer was concreted into place. The USM 2020 and USM 3000 were used over the entire surface in transition sections. The MSS achieved a tuning frequency of 12.5 Hz.
 

The advantages:

• Vibration protection and drainage provided by the profiled USM 1000 W directly on the tunnel floor
• The tuning frequency achieved by the mass-spring system ensures effective protection