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RTSA – NZ Chapter Event and Webinar – Cleaning the Otira Tunnel
July 31, 2019 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm UTC+12
Cleaning the Otira Tunnel
The RTSA NZ invite you to an encore of the above presentation in Wellington on Wednesday 31 July, which will also be available to view as a live webinar.
Neil Mason, Managing Director of Vitruvius Ltd, has kindly agreed to make an encore performance of his fascinating presentation on cleaning the Otira Rail Tunnel, originally given to the RTSA in April, so that a wider New Zealand and international audience can participate.
Situated on the Midland Line between Otira and Arthurs Pass in the South Island, KiwiRail’s Otira rail Tunnel measures an impressive 8.566 km in length and runs through a harsh but fragile alpine environment. At the time of its opening in 1923 it was the longest tunnel in the southern hemisphere.
For the past 30 years the tunnel has conveyed trains carrying uncovered coal wagons up the steep 1 in 33 gradient from Otira, combined with the ventilation system has deposited sand and coal dust on the floor and walls creating a “mountain range” balanced along the top of power and communication cables. A creative method had to be developed, using innovative technology, to remove the deposits by water jets and then remove the particulates from the water to comply with stringent environmental consent conditions, before discharge into the nearby river.
Neil has led many interesting and challenging rail projects through his 27 years in the rail industry in NZ and the UK. As Project Manager for KiwiRail for the Otira Tunnel project, he successfully led the complex design, challenging consenting phase and testing physical works delivery. Neil was recently quoted saying “cleaning the Otira Tunnel has been without doubt the toughest project I have ever done. It could only have been made harder if we were asked to deliver the scope wearing blindfolds”
Wednesday, 31 July, 5.30pm (NZ time)
Engineering New Zealand, L6, 40 Taranaki Street, Wellington
Register here
There will be an opportunity for networking with drinks and nibbles provided from 5pm.
The presentation will also be broadcast as a live webinar for those unable to attend in Wellington, to take part in the online webinar, please register here.