Measurements and investigations at the floating-track-bed system in the north-south tunnel in Berlin

Abstract

The new north-south connection is the heart of the redesigned railway lines in Berlin. The line consisting of four to eight tracks runs in a tunnel system through the government district and the "Potsdamer Platz" with modern and very sensitive buildings. The immediate vicinity of these buildings required complex vibration-reduction measures in order to meet the very strict noise and vibration limits that had been contractually agreed with the owners of the neighbouring buildings. One of the major problems was that no experience had previously been gained with vibrations of running trains in interaction with one-shell-tubbing tunnels in such dimensions. Therefore, extensive experimental investigations were necessary to validate the first vibration prognosis and to optimise the vibration-reduction measures. Moreover, measurements for technical approval and quality assurance were carried out. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.