By rosebell
The arrival follows that of TBM Aayushi in August. The Suburban Connect consortium, comprising CPB Contractors, Ghella and ACCIONA, will deploy the two machines to excavate approximately 10km of twin tunnels on the southern section of the project.
TBM Aayushi is scheduled to begin tunnelling from the eastern launch shaft later this year, with TBM Belinda expected to follow.
Four Herrenknecht TBMs for the Southern Section
Suburban Connect will use four 7.24m-diameter tunnel boring machines manufactured by Herrenknecht to construct the southern section of SRL East. The programme includes a TBM operated by what the project describes as the world’s first all-female tunnelling crew.
The machines will excavate the twin tunnels forming part of the new orbital rail line, which is designed to improve connections between Melbourne’s eastern and southeastern suburbs.
Tunnelling Underway on the Northern Section
Tunnelling on SRL East began in September, when TBM Alice, operated by the Terra Verde consortium, started excavation on the northern section. A second machine, TBM Hacia, is underground and being prepared to begin tunnelling.
Terra Verde comprises Webuild, GS Engineering and Construction, and Bouygues Construction Australia. The consortium will deploy four CREG-manufactured earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines (EPBMs) for the northern section.
With TBM components now arriving for the southern section and tunnelling underway in the north, work is progressing towards delivering the twin tunnels that will form a key part of SRL East.
