Austrian engineers are recognized worldwide as experts for the improvement and optimisation of railways in all sorts of difficult terrain not only limited to Alpine regions. At the end of January 2018 specialists from Geoconsult and Georesearch from Wals/Salzburg in Austria have presented in Buenos Aires a risk analysis for the “Tren a las Nubes” which has been developed in very short time at low expenditure using innovative modern methods. The risk analysis provides a well-founded basis for future investments in Argentina’s rail-infrastructure and is an important contribution to the economic development and improvement of living conditions in the North-western region of Argentina.
The Tren a las Nubes Project
In 2017 Geoconsult – together with our Austrian partners STL, PLANUM and Georesearch - performed a study oft he general status and feasibility of re-establishing operation of a 620km long Andean railway line reaching an altitude of 4,475 m.
On 24th of January, 2018, we proudly presented the final report at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce at the Austrian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The presentation was attended by members of related ministries in Argentina (mining, economy, infrastructure) and held by Gerhard Harer, Martin Böfer and Giorgio Höfer-Öllinger.
Argentina’s
„Train to the Clouds“ departs for the future
Team of experts from Austria develops risk analysis
using innovative methods
Buenos Aires (AR)/Wals by Salzburg (AT), 5th. March 2018. A team of experts from Geoconsult and
Georesearch from Austria has presented at the end of January 2018 an extensive
study including risk analysis for the railway infrastructure in the
Argentine-Chilean Andes in particular for the Argentine section the “Tren a las
Nubes”. With the risk analysis the worldwide acknowledged specialists provide a
well-founded basis for future investments in Argentina’s rail-infrastructure
and an important contribution to the economic development and improvement of
living conditions in the North-western region of Argentina.
The special challenge consisted in assessing an area of approximately
10,000 km2 at high altitudes subject to extreme climatic conditions
in a short period of time. A two stage process has been developed. In a first
stage based on remote sensing data (satellite pictures) and local expert
workshops “hot spots” where identified and associated initial risk analysis
performed. In a second stage these
locations have been verified in situ and further explored by the use of drones.
Based on data from the existing infrastructure, identified natural hazards as
well as logistical requirements models for time tables have been developed
allowing an estimate of the annual total transport capacity.
Austrian engineers are recognized worldwide as experts for the
improvement and optimisation of railways in all sorts of difficult terrain not
only limited to Alpine regions. Therefore the study has been supported
financially by the Austrian Economic Service. The specialists from Geoconsult
and Georesearch from Wals/Salzburg in Austria have elaborated a concise risk
analysis for the “Tren a las Nubes” (Train to the Clouds) which has been
developed in very short time using innovative methods. Until now the assessment
of risks and associated dangers of a linear infrastructure consisted in mapping
the terrain on the ground walking kilometre for kilometre along its entire
length in order to develop models for risk analysis. The assessment of the
approximately 570 km long Argentine section from Salta to Socompa on the
Chilean border on the railway line to Antofagasta on the Pacific Ocean in the
Northern Region of Chile would have taken at least six months of fieldwork. By
the application of modern methods such as the use of drones the amount of
fieldwork has been reduced to less than a month concurrent with an increased
quality and distinctly lower costs for data collection.
Train to the clouds
The railway line from Salta (Argentina) to Antofagasta (Chile) has been
taken into operation in 1949 after a construction period of 27 years. The
railway line comprises 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 switch back
bends, 2 switch backs and 21 stations. It crosses several salt flats rises to
an elevation of over 4400 m and is in parts subject to extreme climatic conditions.
The world famous tourist train “Tren a las Nubes” runs along a stretch of the
line including the “Viaducto Polvorilla” the highest viaduct in South America.
Challenge of Nature
The extensive and exposed mountain ridges of the Andes represent major challenges
for planning, construction, maintenance and operation of traffic infrastructure.
Until now roads are the main transport routes between Argentina and Chile,
which are however often in bad shape and can only be used part of the year due
to the climatic conditions.
The study shows the potential along this transport corridor, which is
the only railway line between Argentina and Chile still in operation. This is
of major importance especially considering it against the background of
existing natural resources.
Innovative methods of analysis
Integral interdisciplinary methods have been used in order to analyse
natural hazards along the entire line based on satellite data and
simultaneously assessing potential availabilities of service based on the technical
condition of the railway line. Establishing step by step options for
improvement and tailor made concepts for logistics and cargo handling it was
possible to derive yearly transport capacities conclusively.
Because of the extreme topographic location the extensive analysis of
natural hazards and risks is an important basis for decision making for the
railway operator in order to perform adequate maintenance measures in the
future. A particular challenge for the Austrian specialists has been the extension
of the area to be investigated of over 10,000 km2, the poor quality
of available data and the very short period of time of less than 6 month to
carry out the work.
Enormous potential for railway
transport
The economic and geographic external conditions of the region have been
assessed with the conclusion that an enormous potential of goods favourable for
rail transport faces a very small actual share of railway transport mostly due
to structural reasons. Logistics are highly ineffective because of missing
logistic hubs non coordinated cycles of loading, a poor transport
infrastructure missing multimodal
connections and inadequate warehousing. Consequences are uncertainties in the
reliability of transport additional costs and limitations of production
capacities, reasons which influence the economic development of a region
unfavourably.
The experts of Geoconsult and Georesearch
with their partners STL-Solutions for Transport & Logistics and Planum
(both from Graz, Austria) recommend a step by step improvement of the existing
railway line as well as the arrangement of multimodal hubs for goods in order
to stabilize the region’s economy.
The investigation of the entire railway line
has shown that the railway infrastructure which initially has been designed for
heavy traffic is safe for operation. For an increase of current capacities a
number of immediate- and construction measures have been recommended.
Risk reduction for the railway
In order to assess the natural hazards and
risks a two stage analytical method has been followed by the experts. On the
basis of satellite data and a first field trip with interviews of experts in
the field 94 risk areas have been identified categorized by type of risk,
intensity, frequency and consequence and the resulting risks analysed. The
areas have been overflown in detail by drones collecting new field data. The
risk analysis has been updated with the new detailed data. Approximately 25% of
all risks have been assessed as high. Suitable technical and organisational measures
have been proposed for risk mitigation. The feasibility study has been
presented end of January 2018 in the Austrian foreign trade centre in Buenos
Aires to a delegation of members of the Argentine ministries for mining and infrastructure as well as the
Argentine railways.
The Geoconsult Group
Geoconsult is a private independent engineering company offering
engineering services to government departments and private companies worldwide.
Services comprise structural and civil engineering, geotechnics, soil
and rock mechanics, geology, hydrogeology, geo- and information sciences,
surveying, mining and electrical engineering. All development stages of
engineering projects starting from initial studies and investigation campaigns
followed by all phases of the design process up to services during
construction, reviews and consulting are covered.
Geoconsult has branch offices in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Further information at
www.geoconsult.eu
 |  |
Geoconsult and partners have elaborated
a feasibility study and risk analysis for the
„Tren a las Nubes“ from Salta to Socompa
(Source: Wikipedia)
| Operation of the 780 km long railway line over the Andes from Salta in Argentina to Antofagasta in Chile was started 1949 after approximately 27 years of construction |
 |  |
The risk analysis of Geoconsult’s
experts assesses the natural hazards for Argentina’s “Train to the Clouds” |
The feasibility study and risk analysis
of Geoconsult’s experts provides an
extensive amount of data for future
investments in rail-infrastructure in
order to improve economic development
and living conditions in the North-
western region of Argentina considerably
|
 |  |
The experts of Geoconsult during
a field trip in the „Tren a las Nubes“,
the train to the clouds
|
The
Viaducto Polvorilla, a
223 m long steel framework
construction, is with 63 m
the
highest viaduct in South America
|
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