Design and construction of Map Kabao Tunnel, longest rail tunnel in Thailand

Map Kabao Tunnel is a significant part of the track doubling project for the railway line connecting Bangkok to Northeast Thailand. The 5.2 km-long twin-tube tunnel makes is the longest railway tunnel in Thailand. The conventional tunnelling method was used to excavate the tunnel through complex geological conditions consisting of thrusted and folded carbonate and clastic sedimentary rocks. While encountering a few incidents of tunnelling difficulties caused by the poor quality of the rock mass attributed to weathering, sheared discontinuities, and karst features, the construction of the tunnel was ultimately successful and was completed in 2023. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the lessons learned from the design and construction of this mountain rail tunnel project.