By rosebell
Linking the cities of Koblenz and Wetzlar, the 160-year-old Cramberg Tunnel in Germany with 732m length on the Lahn Valley Railway is one of two that have been enlarged for Deutsche Bahn by ARGE Tunnel Cramberg.
Also the date of completing enlargement of the 426m-long Fachingen Tunnel enlargement was November 2025.
In order to enlarging the two 19th century tunnels by 2m, the consortium, comprising Porr GmbH & Co, Feldhaus Bergbau GmbH & Co, and Heinz Schnorpfeil Bau GmbH, used Herrenknecht’s Tunnel Enlargement System (TES).
With around 46m length, 270 tonnes weight and a 12m diameter, the TES enabled the Deutsche Bahn line to remain operational while works were carried out. Trains ran on a new track laid in the middle of the existing tunnel and were shielded by the TES.
