First published in 1982, T&TI’s “World Profile of Tunnelling Contractors & Consulting Engineers” has provided annual insight into tunnelling activity for nearly 25 years, and this year is no exception.
From the listings, it is apparent just how much European and Asian tunnel construction markets are dominated by high-speed rail infrastructure projects; with vast quantities of further work in the planning and design stages.
2007 was always going to be a pivotal year for high-speed rail. Stage 2 of UK’s first line, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, will go into operation later this year; France is due to launch its seventh high-speed line in June, transforming rail travel between Paris, eastern France and Germany; and the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, in Switzerland, is expected to open in December.
These projects fill major gaps in the current European high-speed rail network and will, along with massive ongoing development of Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland’s networks (to mention but a few), have a significant impact on the continent in terms of improved access, economic growth and reduced fuel emissions (particularly if the current trend towards mixed-traffic lines continues).
Outside Europe, the inauguration of Taiwan’s new high-speed line is also imminent. Current construction of South Korea’s second high-speed line and Japan’s extensive and ever expanding network are also noteworthy.
However, it is emerging markets such as China and Russia, which have gigantic rail ambitions and a need to buy in foreign investment and expertise, that offer the greatest potential for tunnelling firms with proven high-speed experience.
The future economic and environmental benefits of today’s high-speed rail development, along with necessary and complementary intra-city rail systems, are immense. In forthcoming years it will be interesting to see how the roll out of these projects affects attitudes in areas such as North America, where pessimism over construction costs and ridership figures continues to prevail.
