Moss Tunnel handover: design, drill‑and‑blast and fit‑out notes for rail engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell
First reported on Tunnels & Tunnelling International – News
30 Second Briefing
MossIA, the Acciona–Implenia joint venture, has handed over the northern Sandbukta open-cut zone, Moss Tunnel portal and northern tunnel stretch on Norway’s Sandbukta–Moss–Såstad double-track railway, part of Bane NOR’s Intercity programme on the Østfold line. The 10km scheme includes two main tunnels – the 2.7km Moss Tunnel and 2.3km Carlberg Tunnel – plus two escape tunnels, with MossIA designing and building 9km using drill-and-blast, scaling, shotcrete, waterproofing and cast in situ concrete. Delivered works include drainage, cable ducts, two technical buildings, surface landscaping and foundations for track switches and light masts.
Technical Brief
- Drill-and-blast excavation was followed by systematic scaling, shotcrete lining, waterproofing membranes and cast in situ concrete.
- Two main tunnels are being constructed: 2.7km Moss Tunnel in the north and 2.3km Carlberg Tunnel in the south.
- Additional safety infrastructure includes two separate escape tunnels, implying cross-connection and egress design requirements.
- Surface works completed include full drainage infrastructure and cable duct corridors for future rail systems installation.
- Preparations for permanent way include foundations for track switches and bases for light masts in the northern section.
- Landscaping of the open-cut zone indicates early reinstatement of surface conditions above the underground works.
Our Take
Within our 136 Infrastructure stories, Norway features far less frequently than the UK or Australia, so Bane NOR’s Sandbukta–Moss–Såstad railway stands out as one of the larger Northern European rail capacity upgrades in current coverage.
The 2.7 km Moss Tunnel and 2.3 km Carlberg Tunnel, plus two escape tunnels, put this MossIA JV package towards the more complex end of the 318 project-tagged pieces, where most rail jobs involve shorter cut-and-cover or single-bore works rather than multiple long rock tunnels with dedicated egress.
With MossIA (Acciona and Implenia) responsible for 9 km of a 10 km corridor, this contract structure concentrates interface and geotechnical risk in a single JV, which typically simplifies coordination for Bane NOR’s wider Intercity programme but leaves less room to reallocate scope if ground conditions prove worse than expected.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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