On 25.02.2013, TBM Charlotte, diameter 10 m, length 110 m, weight 2,220 tons, broke through the second tube of the 4,020m Saverne tunnel driving east-west. Excavation started in September, 2012. Construction of the first tube took from 10.11.2011 to 19.06.2012. The TBM advanced 24 m/day, extracting 730,000 cu m of muck while installing 30,960 segments for 3,870 rings. Every 500 m a crosspassage is being constructed between the two tubes.

The Saverne tunnel comprises lot 47, part of the second phase of the Paris-Strasbourg high-speed line, which includes the construction of the 42 m-high, 270 m-long Haspelbaechel viaduct.

The first phase of construction of the high-speed line, from Paris to Baudrecourt in Moselle, was inaugurated in 2007, reducing travel time between Paris and Strasbourg from 4h to 2h 20min. The second phase of 106 km from Baudrecourt to Vendenheim in Bas-Rhin, currently under construction, will reduce to 1h 50min the travel time from Paris to Strasbourg. Click fr/74 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit www.rff.fr and www.lgv-est.com. 13/13.