First Castellanza Tunnel Breaks Through on Saronno-Malpensa Railway SectionThe first tunnel built to place underground the FNM tracks in Castellanza broke through on 19th April, 2006. The contract has been awarded by Ferrovie Nord Milano Esercizio to a JV of Strabag, Torno Internazionale, Romagnoli and Cogeis and is situated on the Milan Cadorna-Saronno-Busto Arsizio-Malpensa line. The project entails the construction of two 1,855 m-long bored tunnels, with a gradient of 15‰ at 16 m below ground under the municipality of Castellanza, driven by means of an EPB TBM supplied by Wirth (click here and it/33), four cross passages dug by traditional means with previous consolidation of the face, and eight shafts for ventilation, emergency exits and ingress for firefighters (the two end shafts give access to the tunnels during construction).To tunnel in secure conditions, ground consolidation has been necessary. Preventive consolidation measures have also been taken to protect the railway and road bridges on the Olona River and to ensure a smooth under-river crossing. The TBM is being dismantled prior to being reassembled to drive the second parallel tunnel. When tunnelling comes to an end, about one and a half years will be necessary to install the security and signing equipment. A conveyor belt is used for mucking-out. The estimated excavated volume for the tunnels is around 200,000 cubic metres. The overall amount of the works, including the connections to the Italian railways' network and additional works, is nearly EUR140 million whereof EUR37.8 million financed by Lombardy. The first section of the scheme, in Castellanza, will require EUR53 million whereof EUR4.7 financed by Lombardy and the remainder on the state budget. Visit www.wirth-europe.com, www.ferrovienord.it, www.trasporti.regione.lombardia.it, www.strabag.at, www.torno.com, www.cogeis.it and www.romagnoli.net. 19/06. Wirth's EPB TBM breaks through the Castellanza tunnel