Herrenknecht Marks Milestone in Brenner Tunnel

Herrenknecht has played a central role in advancing the Brenner Base Tunnel project, with eight tunnel boring machines (TBMs) having excavated approximately 83.4 kilometers of tunnel beneath the Alps in Austria and Italy. Among these, the Single Shield TBMs “Lilia” and “Ida” recently achieved breakthrough milestones in the H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons section near Innsbruck. These machines, each over 160 meters long and weighing more than 2,400 tons, feature a 10.25-meter diameter cutterhead powered by 4,550 kW, and have contributed significantly to the progress since tunnelling began in mid-2023.

In addition to supplying the TBMs, Herrenknecht provides a comprehensive range of equipment and services, including segment production systems, navigation and ring sequencing technologies, and conveyor belt systems. These offerings support the ongoing development of trans-European rail infrastructure, following major projects such as Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel and preceding the Mont Cenis Base Tunnel between France and Italy.

“The long machine drives at the Brenner are a tough challenge. Thanks to the bravura with which our customers are leading the way here, we are jointly writing a top reference in the history books of tunnel construction.” said Dr.-Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht, founder and CEO of Herrenknecht AG.

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