Dinner at the fortress
In the evening, a dinner will be held in the Hohensalzburg Fortress for the participants of the Tunnel Day (costs € 48 per person).
74. GEOMECHANICS COLLOQUIUM 2025
October 09th-10th, 2025
Field Trip Brenner Base Tunnel
An excursion to the Brenner Base Tunnel is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 08th
The Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) is a straight, flat railway tunnel with a length of 55 km, running between Innsbruck (Austria) and Franzensfeste (Italy), making it a cross-border project of European significance. The BBT consists of two single-track tunnel tubes with a diameter of 8.1 meters, running at a distance of 40 to 70 meters apart. The two tubes are linked every 333 m by connecting side tunnels. A unique feature of the BBT is the continuous exploratory tunnel.
The excursion begins at the modern BBT information center, “Tunnelwelten”, in Steinach am Brenner with a project presentation. Afterward, you will receive protective equipment (helmet, boots, etc.). You will then enter the tunnel via the access tunnel and have the opportunity to visit the cross cavern, the St. Jodok emergency stop, a cavern for the tunnel boring machines, the transfer station, and the Padastertal disposal site.
Schedule:
October 8, 2025
- 07:30 AM – Departure from Salzburg Congress – Start of the excursion
- 10:00 AM – Arrival at the BBT Tunnelwelten in Steinach am Brenner
- 10:30 AM – Project presentation
- 11:30 AM – Lunch
- 12:15 PM – Construction site visit
- 03:00 PM – Departure from the construction site
- 05:30 PM – Arrival at Salzburg Congress
- End of excursion
Important Notes:
- Participation in a tunnel tour is at the sole risk and responsibility of the participants.
- Minimum age: 18 years (16 years with an adult companion and parental consent).
- A good state of health and physical fitness are required for participation.
- Unfortunately, pregnant individuals and people with pacemakers cannot take part in the tour.
Each participant will receive protective equipment (helmet, vest & boots).
https://www.bbt-se.com/
Field Trip Ebensee
An excursion to the Ebensee pumped storage power plant is planned for Friday, Oct. 10th afternoon.
Technical data of the pumped storage power plant Ebensee
The power plant is planned as a cavern power plant at the foot of the Great
Sonnstein with a reversible pump turbine. The upper water reservoir is located in the Rumitzgraben. The completion of the reservoir is formed by an approximately 60-meter-high natural embankment dam. The Traunsee serves as the lower water reservoir. The water is pumped up about 490 meters using a pump turbine, and when energy is needed, the stored water is led down through the pump turbine to generate electricity.
The power plant has a storage capacity of 1.32 million cubic meters and has a capacity of 170 megawatts. The storage capacity enables an operating time for electricity generation of 10 full load hours. The water intake and discharge flow several meters underwater into the Traunsee. The energy discharge to the existing 110 kV overhead line is via a separate energy discharge tunnel and its own switchgear.
Key data:
Type of plant: Cavern power plant
Turbine/pump capacity
(variable-speed Francis pump turbine): 170/150 MW
Efficiency: Approximately 80%
Upper reservoir capacity: 1.32 million m³ (10-hour storage)
Maximum dam height: 60 meters (earth dam)
Gross head: 491 meters
Grid connection (existing line): 110 kV
Preliminary Program
October 10, 2025
- 01:45 pm - Departure from Salzburg Congress
- 03:00 pm - Arrival at the main construction site PSKW Ebensee
- 03:15 pm - Project Explanation
- 04:00 pm - Tour of Construction Areas
- 07:00 pm - Departure towards Salzburg
- 08:15 pm - Arrival at Salzburg Congress
Sight Seeing Programm
On Thursday, October 8th, we are offering accompanying persons the following social program:
The Attersee is the largest lake in the Salzkammergut and, thanks to its turquoise blue water of drinking water quality, is one of the most popular bathing lakes in Austria. In addition to various sports opportunities, the region also offers numerous attractions.
First, our tour leads to the beautiful late Gothic parish church of Gampern, where you can admire one of the three most famous Gothic winged altars in Upper Austria.
Then we go to Seewalchen where we visit the Gexi Tostmann traditional costume museum.
Afterwards we enjoy a walk on the promenade with a view of the lake, passing Villa Paulick, a historic summer villa that is a listed building.
A visit to the Klimt center in Schörfling, a walk on the Klimt theme trail, in the Klimt garden and a boat trip on Lake Attersee open up the Klimt trails and its impressive motifs on land and from the sea side.
Of course, lunch as well as coffee and cake are also provided.
