Trafikverket has completed track-laying in the Hallandsås Tunnel – Sweden’s longest railway tunnel.
Around 18,000 metres of track has been installed altogether in the two 9-kilometre single-track western and eastern tunnels which will eventually replace the existing coastal railway.
The SEK 10.5 billion Hallandsås Tunnel is scheduled to open to passengers on December 13, 2015.
Construction of the twin-bore tunnel first began in 1992. Five years later, the project was brought to a standstill after serious environmental concerns were raised. A third of the tunnel had already been completed.
Following several years of remediation works, the project eventually restarted in 2003.
Once open, the tunnels will increase capacity from four trains an hour to 24 trains an hour and increase the line speed from 80 km/h to 200 km/h. It will also allow freight carriers to double the weight of trains using the route.
With track-laying complete, work will now focus on the installation of electrification and signalling systems. New stations are also being constructed in Förslöv, Barkåkra and Bastad.
Training of train crews and emergency services will be carried out in the summer.
The total amount of track laid across the two tunnels is 18,000 metres rather than 1,800 kilometres as originally stated.
1,800 kilometres of track? That is a long tunnel!