As part of the new southern route, the Semmering Base Tunnel provides a fast and safe connection between Lower Austria and Styria and strengthens the Baltic-Adriatic corridor in Europe. The PORR Group and Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group were commissioned with the railway engineering equipment for the approximately 27-kilometre-long, twin-tube tunnel as part of the BTA Semmering Base Tunnel 4.1 consortium.
“Equipping the Semmering Base Tunnel is an extremely complex task that requires a high level of railway engineering expertise. With its extensive experience in railway construction as part of its broad range of services, PORR is particularly well positioned here. We are proud to be making a significant contribution to the expansion of mobility in Europe with our partner Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group,” said Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of PORR.
The consortium is equipping the approximately 27-kilometre-long, twin-tube tunnel between Gloggnitz in Lower Austria and Mürzzuschlag in Styria. The EUR 176 million contract includes telecommunications, electrical equipment with high-voltage systems, distribution boards, lighting and escape route labelling as well as signage. The contract also includes the mechanical systems for air conditioning, ventilation and extinguishing water as well as locksmith work. The ARGE partners will start planning immediately and construction is scheduled to begin in June 2025. Commissioning is scheduled for 2030.
After the Koralm Tunnel, this is the second major ÖBB tunnel project to be equipped by the PORR Group and Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group (RSRG). PORR is once again responsible for commercial management, while RSRG has the technical lead.
“It gives us great pleasure to be able to make our contribution to the sustainable and safe connection between Lower Austria and Styria,” explains Robert Kumpusch, Managing Director of RSRG’s project business. “We are very happy to contribute our expertise as a full-service provider and from a large number of successfully implemented projects.” PORR CEO Strauss adds: “We see the contract win here on the Semmering Base Tunnel as a great confirmation of the work we have done on the Koralm Tunnel and are certain that we will once again completely fulfil the high expectations here.”
