“The new Dresden–Prague line is one of the most complex next-generation rail projects. Our engineers and project staff will have big challenges to tackle.” Kay Müller, project manager for the new Dresden–Prague line
The key technical aspects of implementation are:
- Fire protection and rescue plans, including emergency stopping points and rescue areas across two countries
- Germany’s longest rail tunnel and all technical dimensions of this, e.g. gradients
- System separation points between Germany and the Czech Republic
- Passing points before and after the tunnel
Numerous laws and regulations form the basis for this work:
- European regulations:
Trans-European Railway Interoperability Regulation (Transeuropäische-Eisenbahn-Interoperabilitätsverordnung), High-Speed Rail Infrastructure TSI subsystem, Energy TSI subsystem, Control Command and Signalling TSI subsystem, Safety in Railway Tunnels TSI and Persons with Reduced Mobility TSI sub-area - German laws and regulations:
Federal Railway Infrastructure Development Act (Bundesschienenwegeausbaugesetz), Federal Regional Planning Act (Raumordnungsgesetz), Law on Administrative Procedures (Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz), Environmental Impact Assessment Act (Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfungsgesetz), Federal Mining Act (Bundes-Berggesetz), Federal Waste Management Act (Bundesabfallgesetz), Federal Pollution Control Act (Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz), Federal Immission Control Ordinance (Bundes-Immissions-Schutzverordnung), General Railway Act (Allgemeines Eisenbahngesetz), Rail Crossings Act (Eisenbahnkreuzungsgesetz), Waste Management and Recycling Act (Abfall-Kreislauf-Wirtschaftsgesetz), Railway Reorganisation Act (Eisenbahnneuordnungsgesetz), German Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (Eisenbahn-Bau- und Betriebsordnung), and others - German laws and regulations:
Planning guideline (Planfeststellungsrichtlinie), Environmental guideline for railway planning permission/approval and magnetic levitation systems (Umwelt-Leitfaden zur eisenbahnrechtlichen Planfeststellung und Plangenehmigung sowie Magnetschwebebahnen), Administrative regulations governing the procedure for commissioning of structural subsystems of the trans-European rail system for fixed installations (Verwaltungsvorschrift für die Verfahrensweise bei der Inbetriebnahme struktureller Teilsysteme des transeuropäischen Eisenbahnsystems für den Bereich ortsfester Anlagen), Administrative regulations governing construction supervision in structural engineering, permanent way and building construction (Verwaltungsvorschrift für die Bauaufsicht im Ingenieurbau, Oberbau und Hochbau), Administrative regulations governing construction supervision for signalling, telecommunications and electrical engineering systems (Verwaltungsvorschrift für die Bauaufsicht über Signal-, Telekommunikations- und Elektrotechnische Anlagen), and others
- DB AG regulations:
Series 123 guidelines on emergency management and fire protection, series 800 guidelines on network infrastructure and designing technology, series 804 guidelines on design, construction and maintenance of railway bridges (and other engineering structures), series 809 guidelines on realising infrastructure and electronics, series 820 guidelines on superstructure for standard gauge railways, series 836 guidelines on design, construction and maintenance for earthworks and other geotechnical structures, series 853 guidelines on design, construction and maintenance for railway tunnels, series 877 guidelines on gas and water crossings, guideline 899/4 on the construction of telecommunications, signalling and high-voltage cable systems, series 997 guidelines on designing and installing overhead line equipment, Federal Railway Authority (EBA) fire and disaster protection requirements for the construction and operation of railway tunnels - Other regulations:
German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) regulations 101-024 on health and safety measures for working on or around railway tracks