SBB CFF FFS - CMI / EIZ Biasca

One of Europe’s most important rail links passes through the Gotthard. The maintenance and intervention center of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in Biasca, south of the Gotthard base tunnel, was endangered by rockfall, falling boulders and stone splinters.

In particular, the rocks falling on the building at 280 km/h were an exceptional hazard due to the high speed. The buildings, the track field, and the people working there had to be protected.

After extensive planning, it was decided to protect the entire plant over a length of more than 500 meters with a roof made of mesh.

Since the dangerous splinters are relatively small, double and staggered installation was carried out with G65/4 mesh (65 mm opening, 4 mm wire thickness). In total, it was 70,000 square meters for the roof and side skirts.

In 2018, the dam that runs parallel to the plants was stabilized by 8,500 square meters of G65/4 mesh.