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Poland sees progress for rail tunnel projects


TBMs for Mumbai road tunnel INDIA - Site assembly began recently on two Terratec rock EPB TBMs for the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road Project (GMLR) in Mumbai. The 14.42m-diameter machines will be used by contractor J Kumar–NCC Private Ltd for the tunnel drives. The project is being developed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The GMLR project involves the


construction of twin road tunnels, each to be excavated in a single drive of approximately 5.3km by TBM. The alignment passes through Deccan basalt and breccia formations at maximum depths of up to 143m with potential for high working water pressures. The finished tunnel ID is 13m. The tunnels will provide a critical east-west road link between Mumbai’s major arterial highways.


Above: Tunnel and platform hall to be built below Poland’s CPK Airport.


POLAND - Four consortia have been shortlisted to build the rail tunnel and platform hall below Poland’s new CPK Airport. Separately, breakthrough has


been made on an evacuation tunnel for the country’s Podlenzhe-Piekelko rail project. For the airport project, the


shortlisted groups for the Design and Build works are: Mirbud (leader), Kobylarnia and Torpol; Mostostal Warszawa (leader), NDI, NDI Sopot and Intercor; Porr (leader) and Gülermak; and, Strabag (leader) and TYM-BUD. All four consortia have


submitted applications for both parts of the contract – the eastern and central section of the tunnel, including the railway station and hub; and the western section of the tunnel, including track junctions. Optional elements to


the packages include track systems and the design, supply, commissioning and maintenance of handling equipment. The contract is scheduled to be


signed in the first quarter of 2027. The station, including the


platform hall, will be partially underground. The tunnel is to


be 6km-long and of variable width. At the eastern end, it is to accommodate six tracks, expanding to 12 in the station area –including two through tracks. To the west it will narrow back to hold six tracks. The station and tunnel beneath


the new airport are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2032, in line with the opening of the high-speed rail section between Warsaw and Łódź. Further sections of the “Y” network – from Łódź to Wrocław and from Sieradz to Poznań – are expected to be operational by the end of 2035. On another rail project –


Podlenzhe-Piekelko, between Limanova and Klechany – breakthrough was recently achieved on an evacuation tunnel. Works on the section are being


carried out by a Budimex and Gülermak consortium. The works include the modernisation and electrification of more than 12.5km of railway line No. 104, the construction of two tunnels near Pisarzowa, and 10 viaducts and 12 bridges. TBMs ‘Kinga’ and ‘Jadwiga’ have been boring 3.8km-long parallel tunnels - the former on the evacuation tunnel and the latter on the main rail tunnel.


ERT rehab on track US - Significant progress has been made on the East River Tunnel (ERT) Rehabilitation Project. Owner Amtrak reports that track construction is under way after crews completed critical civil construction and advance complex systems installations. The aim is to reopen in July. Works have included benchwall


construction, involving pouring concrete for multiple 122m-long sections each week. In total, almost 4,900m of new benchwall was installed across 41 pour days, said Amtrak. Track construction officially began in


February, pulling continuous welded rail into the ERT. The works have also included installation of low vibration track (LVT) system blocks, and completing approx 305m of track bed. Installation of modern communication, power, and safety systems has also been performed.


Gotthard road tunnel milestone SWITZERLAND - Implenia and Frutiger have completed a 3.8km-long TBM drive for the northern section of the new Gotthard road tunnel. TBM ‘Alessandra’ was launched in February 2025 and finished in late April 2026. The 12.3m-diameter Herrenknecht


machine is now being prepared for the next section, before which it needs to be pulled through with an o of th Federal Roads Office’s new Gotthard


Tunnel runs 70m to the east of the existing road tunnel which opened in 1980 and carries traffic in both directions. Once the new tunnel is completed, the older tunnel will be refurbished and each tunnel will have a single lane of traffic.


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