Railroad tunnel Abcoude

The train connection between Amsterdam and Utrecht is the most frequently used railroad line in the Netherlands. To increase capacity, this connection will be doubled to four rail tracks. Also, same-level railroad crossings will be removed. Near Abcoude the railroad will cross the small river Gein by means of a tunnel. The small-scale rural landscape and ecology is an important factor here. The project was tendered as a special form of "design and construct", namely using systems engineering. Under this scheme the contractors are involved in the development of the Terms of Reference from the beginning, based on a global package of functional requirements. In close consultation with the client an optimum design is achieved, with the aid of value engineering, through common analysis of requirements, costs and risks.

The project involved design and construct of this "structural work 42", consisting of:
- a tunnel crossing under the Gein river
- open approach constructions
- a polder with ring dyke
- relocation of roads and dykes
- adjustment of water management
- miscellaneous works, including a temporary rail bridge

Activities:

• conceptual design
• systems engineering
• terms of reference
• preliminary design
• risk-analysis