NEWS |


Implenia/Marti JV secures Swiss rail work SWITZERLAND - An Implenia and Marti JV has won five of the six main lots – including construction of the 8.3km-long Brüttener tunnel – of Switzerland’s MehrSpur Zurich-Winterthur project. Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has awarded the work to the JV for the Brüttener tunnel (Lot 240) as well as the following sections - Winterthur (Lots 140 and 141), Dietlikon (Lot 340) and Wallisellen (Lot 540). The contracts for the five lots, with a


total value of CHF1.7bn (US$2.13bn), were awarded in stages over a few months. The construction phase will take approximately 10 years to complete. The MehrSpur Zurich-Winterthur project is


to improve capacity by creating a double- track rail line through the Brüttener tunnel and expanding the Dietlikon, Bassersdorf, Wallisellen and Winterthur Töss stations.


TBM spiral finish CHINA - Manufacturer CRCHI has reported success on a major project for a TBM capable of large-gradient, spiral, hard-rock boring for a 7km-long access ramp of the Beishan underground laboratory. The TBM, ‘Beishan No. 1’, broke through on


the main access ramp at the end of 2025, marking a milestone ion excavating large- gradient, small-radius spiral tunnels, the company added. The underground laboratory has one


downward-sloping access ramp, two horizontal tunnels and three vertical shafts. The access ramp has an overall gradient of -10% and a horizontal turning radius of 255m. The surrounding rock is predominantly


granodiorite, classified as Grade I and II, with a quartz content of 25-30%. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the rock is 110MPa to 260MPa, with an average of 170MPa. ‘Beishan No.1’ TBM was built at CRCHI’s


Changsha factory in Q3-2022 and began excavation before year end. The TBM achieved progress of up to


21.6m daily and a maximum monthly advance of 342m.


HS2 starts on central London TBM boring UK - The first of two TBMs building the HS2 route to Euston recently started on its 7.3km-long journey from Old Oak Common to Euston. Lord Peter Hendy, the Rail Minister, and Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, officially launched TBM ‘Madelaine’ in west London to start excavating on the Euston Tunnel.


8 | March 2026


The Herrenknecht TBM was shipped from


Germany to the UK in 2024 and reassembled in the underground station box at Old Oak Common. Engineers from HS2’s London tunnels contactor, Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture (SCS JV), have been preparing the sister machines - the other is ‘Karen’ - for their drives. Planned progress is up to 150m per week, working at depths of 35m-40m. The machines are expected to reach the Euston Cavern by mid-2027. The tunnelling operation for the Euston


Tunnel is being facilitated by a separate logistics tunnel, which was completed in January 2024. Euston Tunnel is the fifth and final deep twin-bore tunnel on the 225km- long HS2 route between central London and Birmingham.


Tunnelling restart in Melbourne after sinkhole AUSTRALIA - Tunnelling on Melbourne’s North East Link (NEL) resumed after investigations into a sinkhole that developed on the tunnel alignment in January. WorkSafe had completed its investigation


into the surface hole at AJ Burkitt Reserve, and Victoria’s state government said it was confident for tunnelling operations to restart safely. Crews stabilised the area above and below ground, conducted detailed investigations and monitored the site around the clock after the surface hole appeared. It had been caused by a reduction in air pressure at the front of the TBM. Tunnelling resumed with strengthened


controls and monitoring in place, including additional system alerts, updated procedures and permit processes, and enhanced operator training. An independent TBM expert was appointed to review measures, and an additional tunnelling expert will review TBM production.


Mumbai-Ahmedabad rail sees breakthrough INDIA - Breakthrough has been achieved on a 1.5km-long mountain tunnel on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway line. It is the first mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra and the state’s second tunnel breakthrough. The tunnel connecting Virar and Boisar stations is one of the longest in the Palghar district. The MT-5 tunnel was excavated from both


ends by drill and blast, and took 18 months. The method allowed real-time monitoring of ground behaviour during excavation and enabled the deployment of support systems such as shotcrete, rock bolts, and lattice girders based on site conditions.


The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail


(MAHSR) project has a total length of 508km, with an overall tunnel length of 27.4km.


Prep for Potomac TBM US - The cutterhead for the first Potomac River Tunnel Project TBM was lowered into the launch shaft in January. The 6.4m-diameter cutterhead for


TBM ‘Mary’ was lowered first, followed by the middle shield. The TBM is one of two Herrenknecht machines commissioned for the project. TBM ‘Mary’ is to excavate the northern section of the tunnel, while TBM ‘Emily’ is to bore south to connect to the Anacostia River Tunnel system.


CREG insitu VD TBM launch on rail project CHINA- CREG’s insitu variable-diameter TBM was recently launched on the Guangzhou–Baiyun Intercity Railway. The company said the machine, ‘Variable


Diameter No. 1’, can expand insitu from 8.83m to 12.45m diameter. The system allows a single TBM to continuously construct, for example, both the running tunnel and the station platform structure, said CREG. During the diameter transformation, the


excavation area increases by approximately 98%, while the formed tunnel inner diameter area increases by about 89%, it added. CREG says the technology enables


green, low-impact construction with less disturbance, minimal surface impact, and low interference. The manufacturer added that it eliminates the need for surface excavation or additional working sites in dense urban settings.


Thames Water reservoir project needs tunnels UK - Thames Water, the UK’s largest water company, recently launched a £5.7bn tender notice for its proposed White Horse Reservoir in Oxfordshire. A key element of the project will be 4km of tunnels to convey water from the River Thames, via a pumping station, to the reservoir. The project is one of nine new reservoirs


aimed at providing water security for the UK. The company is seeking a main works


contractor to design, build, test and commission the reservoir which would be situated south-west of Abingdon. The proposed reservoir would supply water to Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, through to Hampshire and London. It would also be a recreational area. Interested organisations have until 24 April to submit a request to participate.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45