China’s first ‘super-large’ dual-mode shield TBM launches on high-speed rail project

‘Yongan’ is China’s first ‘super-large’ diameter dual-mode shield TBM (Image: China Railway Group)

Chinese contractor China Railway Group has launched two ‘super-large’ diameter tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the construction of a high-speed rail tunnel.

The company claimed that the TBM ‘Yongan’ was China’s first super-large diameter dual-mode shield machine, with an excavation diameter of 14.29 metres, a total length of 117 metres and a weight of about 4,250 tonnes.

It is equipped with eight main beam panel cutter heads, while the cutters feature improved impact and wear resistance.

The TBM, jointly developed by China Railway Tunnel Group and China Railway Engineering Equipment Group, will excavate a total of 3.96km for the Guifengshan Tunnel on the Jiangji section of the Zhuzhao high-speed railway.

The railway line, in Guangdong province, will run for a total length of 98.6km, with tails running at a speed of 350kmh. The tunnel itself will be 15km long.

While ‘Yongan’ was launched in Shunde, another dual-mode shield TBM called ‘Huatong Fenjin’ launched from Zhongshan.