The new line runs through an area with complex geological and hydrogeological conditions. During the cross-border cooperation as part of the INTERREG programme, the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) and the Czech Geological Survey (ČGS) identified seven main geological units that are of particular importance for future in-depth investigations in the course of planning of the new railway line. These are as follows from north to south:
- Quaternary deposits
- Lusatian Massif
- Elbe Valley Slate Mountains
- Eastern Ore Mountains
- Czech Chalk Basin
- Bohemian Central Uplands
- Most Basin
In addition, all route options cross several fault zones. The geotechnical assessment of the options under consideration will look not only at the geomechanical properties of the rock but also at the orientation of the main faults in relation to the intended line of the track. Fault zones are often characterized by areas of reduced shear strength. Planning work therefore needs to examine these locations especially closely. There is a need for more in-depth investigation in the area close to the border, where all route options converge and cross the intersection of the Gottleubatal zone with the Petrovice-Döbra structure. Building a tunnel through the Krušné hory fault zone on the southern edge (Czech side) of the Ore Mountains is a particular geotechnical challenge.
As part of the cross-border collaboration to develop rail traffic between Saxony and the Czech Republic, the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology is providing expert support on geological aspects of the project.
Subsurface investigations
From June 2020 to September 2021, subsurface investigations will be carried out at selected points along the existing line and in the study area for the new line to improve knowledge of subsoil conditions and allow this information to be incorporated into the future design. Samples of the soil and bedrock will be taken for geotechnical analysis.
Several drilling locations have been chosen in cooperation with the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG).
The following areas will be examined:
- Drilling area 1 – Heidenau industrial estate: Core drilling with boreholes up to 35 metres deep will be conducted from June to October 2020 at a planned seven private sites on the industrial estate in Heidenau (Hauptstrasse).
Further details are available in the information sheet.
- Drilling area 2 – railway land between Dresden-Zschachwitz and Heidenau-Grosssedlitz: Core probing with approximately 120 holes up to 8 metres deep will take place on railway property between Dresden-Zschachwitz and Heidenau-Grosssedlitz from the end of June until October 2020.*
Further details are available in the information sheet. - Drilling area 3 – Eastern Ore Mountains investigation area: Core drilling involving nine boreholes up to 400 metres deep will take place in Heidenau-Grosssedlitz, Bahretal (Niederseidewitz, Borna, Gersdorf) and Bad Gottleuba-Berggiesshübel (Börnersdorf, Breitenau) from August 2020 to September 2021.
Further details are available in the information sheet.
More information on the individual bores 1, 2 and 3 and the overview map are available in the media centre.
Contractors have been marking the drilling sites with wooden stakes since the beginning of June.
Investigation drillings started in July.
