ASTT Webinar Number 8.

The ASTT is thrilled to be able to continue on with its webinars in 2021 and once again provide this FREE webinar in lieu of our popular trenchless forums which are presently suspended due to the Coronavirus restrictions.

The webinar will be a joint presentation by William Howlett from ARUP (UK). The webinar is entitled " Microtunnelling for mass underground freight distribution networks” and will be held on Thursday 22 April commencing at 5:00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) and concluding at 6:00pm.

Abstract of Presentation
Since the 1800’s post offices have adopted the use of small diameter tunnels to move post around distribution offices and cities. London, New York and Chicago all had notable developments in ‘mail tunnels’ which will be discussed during the presentation. In the 20th century the use of vehicles decreased the requirement for post tunnels reducing their benefit, resulting in them closing. Today with emission restrictions and taxes on cities, congestion and associated time delays the option of underground freight distribution has several benefits that are to be discussed. Remotely operated freight movement ‘trains’ running in multiple small diameter tunnels from external city distribution hubs to inner city locations may today have a business case. 
In the presentation the history of mail rail will be discussed through to the current work being undertaken in the UK to investigate the feasibility of such a system to supply major cities. Will shall discuss a twin bore 12km pipe jacked route following the existing canal network into the City of Birmingham, UK including multiple curved alignments and the potential for similar schemes feeding major cities globally.