Transforming and modernising large urban engineering works, such as major railway hubs, requires a streamlined operation that adheres to tight deadlines and maximises results. This becomes all the more important when working in challenging conditions, such as in tunnels and dusty environments. In these cases, it is important to choose vehicles that are not only high-performance and robust, but which also ensure comfort and safety for the operator.

Thanks to their characteristics including versatility, meticulous design, sturdiness and manoeuvrability, DIECI vehicles are ideal solutions for any type of construction site, such as that created to build Zukunft Bahnhof Bern, a station fit for the future.

Zukunft Bahnhof Bern: an important urban engineering project in the Swiss capital

In a constantly evolving society, where distances are getting ever shorter and people’s lifestyles and working habits are constantly changing, some architectural projects carried out in the last century are now obsolete. One such example is Bern railway station, which was built in the 1950s to handle up to 16,000 people per day, but which now serves 60,000 passengers.

This sudden change led to the birth of the Zukunft Bahnhof Bern project, which will double the size of the station. Once it is completed, long-distance trains will continue along overground lines, while local trains will connect to underground lines 17 metres below the new station.

The project includes an underpass and a system of bus lanes, cycle paths and pedestrian walkways that will revitalise Bern station, transforming it into a new transport hub for the city’s residents.

On a construction site like this, besides unpredictable factors such as geological phenomena, lack of space is probably the greatest challenge.  Every single construction sequence must be well coordinated, so safety requirements are extremely stringent.

For the realisation of this large urban engineering project, several vehicles from the DIECI range were selected, specifically:

• truck mixers, which are ideal for heavy-duty and intensive uses, including in confined spaces
• dumpers, which are small and compact, perfect for handling material inside tunnels
• Pegasus rotating telehandlers, which are designed to simplify work on the construction site, adapting to the various operational phases

These vehicles have proven to be ideal for a project such as Zukunft Bahnhof Bern, thanks to their ability to operate efficiently even in atypical, dangerous and hostile environments. Their strong, robust structure is ideally complemented by effective self-cleaning prefilters and, in the case of Pegasus, a spacious, protected cabin equipped with air conditioning and a filtering system, all of which ensure a comfortable and safe working experience for the operator.

Why DIECI dumpers?

DIECI dumpers are ideal for working in the confined dimensions of underground tunnels. Their load capacity, which ranges from 7000 kg to 10,800 kg depending on the model, allows waste materials generated by the tunnelling machines to be transported to the surface.

These vehicles, which are particularly versatile, strong, easy to handle and lightweight, are ideal for any type of construction site, because:

• They are autonomous in the caisson loading phase thanks to the self-loading shovel, which simplifies and expedites operations
• They ensure precision and quality of execution thanks to the reversible driver’s seat, which facilitates loading and unloading by simply reversing the direction of travel

Why DIECI truck mixers?

On the Bern railway station worksite, the truck mixers are tasked with supplying the concrete sprayers that line the walls of the tunnels. The hydrostatic truck mixer belonging to the DIECI range is the highest powered Italian-made model on the market, producing 100 m3 of concrete in just 5 hours of work.

The main features of DIECI truck mixers include:

• Spiral blades, which allow homogeneous mixing and, as a result, better quality throughout the mixture
• A self-loading shovel, which enables autonomous working even in difficult environments
• A comfortable cab with reversible seat, which provides greater manoeuvrability even in narrow spaces such as tunnels

Why Pegasus 40.18 – 400°?

DIECI rotating telehandlers are the ideal solution for any type of construction site, adapting to multiple work phases, thanks also to the numerous available accessories, such as baskets, grippers, material holders and mixing buckets.

The rotating telehandler chosen for Bern station was the Pegasus 40.18 – 400°, which is equipped with a boom capable of 400° non-continuous rotation. On the Swiss worksite it is tasked with lifting and transporting heavy materials and ensuring the safety of tunnels by equipping the walls with essential services, such as electrical systems, lighting and ventilation ducts.

The advantages of the Pegasus 40.18 – 400° are:

• Digital telematic system (DTS), which enables all of the vehicle’s indicator lights to be monitored remotely. This system facilitates periodic maintenance, optimising costs and ensuring excellent vehicle performance
• Maximum precision, guaranteed by the inching pedal and the automatic levelling system, which stabilises the vehicle on uneven ground
• Single-lever control which guarantees safety, intuitiveness and ease of use
• Automatic equipment recognition, enabling the vehicle to automatically detect attached equipment and configure itself accordingly
• High-efficiency characteristics, such as a maximum capacity of up to 4000 kg, maximum lifting height of 18 metres and an engine power of 85.9 kW

The railways of Switzerland

Despite its seemingly closed location, nestled within the Alps, Switzerland has always been a modern and innovative country. The first Swiss railway line was built in 1847 and it took only 13 years to connect the opposite ends of the country. Swiss Federal Railways was established in 1901, when Switzerland’s rapidly expanding rail network was unified.

Thanks to the power, versatility and safety of DIECI vehicles, today these lines are ready to undergo modernisation so that they can welcome even more visitors from all over Europe.