ABSTRACT
The Betuweroute is a new double-track railway for freight transport in the Netherlands. When completed, it will connect the Rotterdam harbour with the Dutch German border near Emmerich. Three tunnels have to be completed using shield tunnelling in a time when this technique was just developing in the Netherlands. The three shield tunnels in the Betuweroute are: the Botlek railway tunnel, the Sophia railway tunnel and the tunnel Pannerdensch Kanaal. The developments that have been carried out are a vivid example of the general trend to optimise tunnel construction technology with innovative techniques.
