By rosebell
The process of assembling TBM Mayrit that is due to excavate Madrid’s Metro Line 11 has started.
With the aim of digging the 5.6km stretch between Comillas and Conde de Casal stations, this machine will be launched in March 2026 and is going to have a daily advance of 15m, only stopping every 1km for maintenance.
The location of assembling the 1,500-tonne, 98m-long Herrenknecht machine is the 27m-deep launch shaft.
Being designed for the geology of gravel and course and black clay, this TBM has a 9.4m diameter, 54 discs, 172 spades and a 200m turning radius, whereas the spoil will be transported on a 6km-long conveyor belt.
Covering two new, and three connecting stations, on the first phase of the L11 extension, 43% of the work on five stations has been completed. The full project will extend 33km and include 20 stations, becoming what president of the Madrid region, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, said would be the backbone of Metro de Madrid.
