Lund-Arlöv, one of Europe’s most innovative rail digitalization projects, completed
December 13, 2023
The four-track extension between Lund-Arlöv, one of Europe’s most innovative railway digitalization projects, was inaugurated on December 8 in Sweden.
Initiated in 2017, the Lund Arlöv Four Tracks (Fyrspåret) railway project is carried out by OHLA Group together with Swedish contractor NCC, on behalf of the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket). The contract includes four new tracks between the cities Malmö and Lund, an important route in the very south of Sweden. In addition to the 11 km of new railway tracks, the scope of works also covers new four new stations, around 50 technical buildings, platforms, bridges, tunnels, passages, temporary tracks, and car- and bicycle parking for commuters.
The connection of the new tracks at the beginning of October 2023 was the last major shutdown, and milestone for the project. This final connection realizes a significant increase in capacity on the route, from 460 to 650 trains per day and passengers/day increases from 60,000 to 80,000 and will be part of one of the most important rail corridors in Europe.
In addition to, and despite, increasing the capacity in terms number of trains, the new railway successfully reduces noise disturbances for residents living near the tracks. This is achieved by sound barriers, a 400-meter railway tunnel around Åkarp, and approximately 5 km of the railway being built in lowered grounds.
A benchmark in the use of BIM, GIS and drones
The infrastructure, an example of innovation through the combined use of BIM methodology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and drones, is an excellent example of the potential of digitalization in construction and, more specifically, of the symbiosis between BIM, GIS and drones, a workflow that OHLA is firmly committed to in its railway works.
Specifically in this contract, the digital twins were used to visualize, analyze and control all kinds of relevant parameters and processes, such as earthwork, best access routes to the work front, site access management, site units, temporary occupations and environmental management, among others.
The data is accessed through a dashboard, an open application for mobile devices and web viewers developed by OHLA, which provides access to the information to the people involved in the project.
The project was developed in collaboration with the client, starting with an initial phase of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) to define the project objectives. Specifically, we worked with the client’s team to coordinate multiple traffic disruptions and complex logistical operations, and we worked together to solve the challenges the project presented, always in collaboration with the client.