The Munich S-Bahn system is one of Germany’s largest suburban rail networks. With 148 stations, 442 km of tracks and approximately 1,000 train journeys a day, the network extends far into the city's hinterland, connecting the Bavarian capital with the entire region. Originally designed to carry 250,000 passengers every working day, far more than 800,000 people make use of Munich's S-Bahn today.

During peak travel times, every two minutes an S-Bahn train travels through the tunnel in one direction. The metro area of Munich is a fast growing region in Germany. The continuous development of the public transport system is therefore an urgent need. To upgrade the S-Bahn system and to reduce the traffic burden on the existing core line, two new tracks will be built parallel to it between the stations of Laim in the west of the city and Leuchtenbergring in the east, covering a total of about 14 km. Three new underground stations are planned at Munich Main Station, Marienhof, and Munich East, located about 40 m underground. The core of the new east-west connection is a 7-km twin-bore tunnel linking Munich's main station Hauptbahnhof with the eastern hub Ostbahnhof, between Donnersberger Bridge and Munich East Station. The tunnels will be driven by TBM for 11.9km, by conventional method for 1.3 km and in cut&cover for a total of 800 m. The two new tunnels will be under the already existing subway and the old tunnel. The German federal government is providing 60% of the funding for the €3.84bn project under an agreement signed with the state of Bavaria in October 2016.

On the 15^th November 2018 DB Netz AG awarded to the consortium composed of Ed.Zueblin AG, Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG, Max Boegl & Co. KG e Bauer Spezialtiefbau GmbH the first major construction contract for the second Munich S-Bahn tunnel. Which is the EUR189 million Overground West contract includes the dismantling and construction of new additional tracks and pointwork, two flyovers and a twin-track steel arched bridge and a noise barrier bridge on the surface section between Laim and Donnersberger Bridge. The renovation of the Laim passenger station as well as electrical work on low-voltage and medium-voltage installations, cable foundation work and the clearing of the construction site for the West tunnel portal are also part of the package.

Planning will begin this month with construction expected to start in autumn 2019. The construction of services will start with the implementation planning from the end of the month with main construction starting from autumn 2019.

Currently, there are further bidding procedures for the main construction projects in the Tunnel West area with the main railway station and Marienhof. These works will be awarded in the coming weeks. Click here for a video and de/55 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://www.2.stammstrecke-muenchen.de/. 46/18