The goal of this construction project, which has been in the planning stages for decades, is to significantly relieve the city center of Feldkirch, Austria, of through traffic in the future. The construction of the approximately 3,950-meter-long tunnel, featuring four tunnel branches and an underground roundabout, requires the movement of enormous quantities of rock: a total of up to one million tons of excavated material will be generated.
The rock extracted during tunnel construction, primarily limestone, is loaded directly at the Felsenau portal into bulk-cargo railcars. It is then transported via the spur track built by the Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group to the Rheintal Resource Center or to the quarry. Two train trips per day are planned, with each train transporting approximately 1,000 net tons of material.
Sustainable loading processes
A fully electric STANDARD BR100 shunting robot from Vollert is used to move the cars precisely and reliably. The compact shunting vehicle positions the freight cars in the loading area, ensuring an efficient flow of material on the construction site. Thanks to its electric drive, the system operates with zero local emissions and is particularly quiet—a decisive advantage for infrastructure projects in urban environments.
Katharina Rhomberg served as the sponsor for the official christening of the shunting vehicle on site. The ceremonial commissioning also marked the launch of another key component of sustainable construction site logistics for the Feldkirch City Tunnel. “Especially for large-scale projects of this magnitude, efficient and sustainable construction site logistics are becoming increasingly important. Transporting large quantities of material by rail relieves traffic on the roads, reduces emissions, and ensures safe and predictable operations on the construction site,” explains Christian Langner, Project Manager for Sales at Vollert. The BR100 in use was developed for demanding shunting and loading processes in industrial and infrastructure projects. Thanks to its compact design, high traction power, and precise control, the vehicle is particularly well-suited for use on tight construction sites or in areas with limited space. At the same time, its fully electric operation enables energy-efficient and low-maintenance use.
Minimizing noise and CO₂ emissions
The Feldkirch City Tunnel is not only a key transportation project for the Vorarlberg region but also an example of how modern infrastructure projects are increasingly relying on sustainable transport and logistics concepts. Shifting the transport of excavated material to rail significantly reduces the burden on surrounding roads while simultaneously minimizing noise and CO₂ emissions.
For Vollert, the project once again underscores the growing importance of intelligent shunting and loading solutions across a wide range of industries and applications. Whether in industry, tunnel construction, raw material logistics, or heavy-haul handling—modern shunting technology makes a decisive contribution to efficient, safe, and sustainable material flows. In keeping with Vollert’s motto “Moving the impossible,” the fully electric shunting robot in Feldkirch will move enormous quantities of tunnel excavated material day after day - precisely, efficiently, and emission-freely on the rails.