photo: Josef Ungersböck / ÖBB/EXCITING: ÖBB informs on the bridge prototype on the Aspangbahn line
Since spring, ÖBB has been working intensively on modernizing the railroad line between Wr. Neustadt and Hartberg (Aspangbahn) as well as on the Friedberg - Oberwart line. The focus is on the renewal of the stations Friedberg, Grafendorf, and Rohrbach-Vorau as well as two bridge renewals in Dechantskirchen and Haideggendorf. The Pinkabach bridge in Haideggendorf is considered a technical innovation. It has now been completed.
Since August, the construction crew in Haideggendorf has been working at full speed to renew the railroad bridge over the Pinkabach. For the first time, a structure with a reinforced concrete box girder was used with a wall thickness of only about 15 centimeters, compared with the usual 25 to 30 centimeters. The special construction, which ultimately also uses less concrete than conventional models, was thus built in nature for the first time. And the components, which are extremely slim compared with conventional precast elements, are characterized by their low weight.
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Technical innovation
The new construction method was tested in advance in the laboratory at the Vienna University of Technology, with which ÖBB cooperates successfully. The structure consists of precast elements that are connected with reinforcing bars and poured with concrete. "Using the new method, bridges can be built much faster than before. With the first application on the Pinkabach bridge, ÖBB has made a decisive contribution to the further development of this innovation," explains Johann Kollegger, Professor of Concrete Construction at Vienna University of Technology.
Challenging precision work
The old bridge structure was removed, excavated, and replaced by a new one. The components for the new bridge were prefabricated in advance, which made their lightweight possible, and were then inserted like large building blocks. Two 450-ton cranes were used to lift the precast elements into place. Precision work and enormous dexterity were required because such precast elements can also break if lifted improperly or handled too quickly. "The work had to be carried out in the tightest of time frames to keep line interruptions and thus disruptions to train traffic as short as possible," explains Heinz Höller, deputy ÖBB regional manager. Now the bridge is fit for the future again.
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Source: ÖBB