Category Archives: TBM

Today, the “Sfânta Ana” boring shield has broke through the wall of the future Aeroport Băneasa metro station on M6 Metro Line.

The giant machine began excavating the tunnel on Line 1 on May 28, 2025, from the future Tokyo metro station.

This event marks the completion of the first double-sided tunnel segment on the SOUTH Section of the future M6 Metro Line, with Line 2 having been finished over the same distance by the “Sfânta Maria” TBM in the middle of the previous month.

The segment completed by the “Sfânta Ana” boring machine amounts 900 m excavated and 600 tunnel rings assembled!

We are glad that the two boring machines are keeping pace with the schedule for completing the structural civil works for the SOUTH Section of the future M6 Metro Line!

The TBMs “Sfânta Maria” and “Sfânta Ana” will excavate the 6.6 km long underground tunnels, on which the six stations and six interstations of the alignment of M6 Metro Line, SOUTH Section, 1 Mai – Tokyo, will be built.

Metrorex continues to build for people, for the city, for Romania, and for a sustainable future! 

Today, the “Sfânta Maria” TBM broke through the wall of the future Aeroport Băneasa metro station, crowning the joy of the recent celebration on August 15.

Excavation of the tunnel on Line 2 has began on April 9, 2025, at the future Tokyo metro station, and during this period the first tunnel segment on the SOUTH Section of the future M6 Metro Line has been completed.

In figures, this segment represents 902 m excavated and 602 tunnel rings assembled!

Meanwhile, the “Sfânta Ana” TBM is executing the first tunnel segment on Line 1 of the SOUTH Section. At this point, it has excavated over 406 m and assembled over 265 tunnel rings.

The TBMs “Sfânta Maria” and “Sfânta Ana” will excavate the 6.6 km long underground tunnels, on which the six stations and six interstations of the M6 Metro Line alignment, SOUTH Section, 1 Mai – Tokyo, will be built.

Metrorex continues to build for people, for the city, for Romania, and for a sustainable future!

The second operational TBM machine on the South Section of M6 Metro Line goes into action.It also runs from the future Tokyo metro station to 1 Mai, excavating the second tunnel on the SOUTH Section.

Being named “Sfânta Ana”, an emblematic spiritual symbol, the TBM that will dig the twin tunnel that the TBM “Sfânta Maria” is drilling, is 105 meters long, weighs about 600 tons, and its cutter head is about 6.60 meters in diameter.

The TBM’s average forward speed is 1.5m per hour, excavating about 60 cubic meters of soil.
As it excavates and removes the excavated soil, the TBM mounts the tunnel rings. The tunnel rings are transported by MSV (Multi Service Vehicle), a special transport vehicle that can carry up to 50 tons.
The average fitting is 13 to 14 rings per tunnel in 24 hours.
The staff operating the TBM work 24 hours a day in three shifts.
Except for necessary maintenance breaks, the TBM runs continuously.

We wish the TBM “Sfânta Ana” a smooth and efficient journey through the underground!

The first operational TBM on the SOUTH Section of M6 Metro Line is ready for start. During a launching ceremony attended by officials, Metrorex representatives, JICA representatives, representatives of the Contractor appointed for the execution of the contract “Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai-Otopeni). Design and Build – Civil Works for Lot 1.1: 1 Mai-Tokyo”, and representatives of the Consultant Supervisor, the cutter head of the giant machine makes today its first rotation marking the start of drilling activities from the future metro station Tokyo to the existing metro station 1 Mai.

Usually, the TBM machines are named with names of saints. The TBM to start at today’s launch ceremony to mark this momentous occasion is called ‘Sfânta Maria’ – the symbol of divine protection and care for all humanity. Next to it will be active the second shield, named “Sfânta Ana”, another iconic figure of Orthodox spirituality, representing wisdom, patience and steadfast faith. The machine bearing the name “Sfânta Maria” was brought to Romania close to September 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The second TBM is called “Sfânta Ana”, as the holidays follow one another in the calendar.
The two machines will excavate the 6.6 km-long underground tunnels through which will be built the six stations and six interstations on the alignment of the M6 Metro Line, Section SUD, 1 Mai – Tokyo.

„This day marks a new milestone in the accomplishment of M6 Metro Line, a major urban infrastructure project that will significantly improve public transport, people’s mobility, road traffic and people’s lives. It is an important day for Bucharest and for the extension of the metro network. With financing from the state budget, European funds and JICA reimbursable external funds, Metrorex S.A. is among those who are building for the people, for Romania, for a sustainable future”, says Mariana Miclăuș, General Manager of Metrorex.

The “Sfânta Maria” TBM is 97 meters long, weighs about 600 tons and has a 6.60-meter drill head. The TBM’s average forward speed is 1.5 meters per hour, during which it excavates about 60 cubic meters of earth. As it excavates and removes the excavated soil, the TBM mounts the tunnel rings.
The tunnel rings are transported by MSV (Multi Service Vehicle), a special transport vehicle that can carry up to 50 tons. The average installation rate is 13 to 14 rings per tunnel in 24 hours and the staff operating the TBM work 24 hours in three shifts. Except for necessary breaks for maintenance, the TBM runs continuously.

In the period following the start of operation of the “Sfânta Maria” TBM, the “Sfânta Ana” TBM will also become operational. It will also start from the future Tokyo metro station towards 1 Mai, excavating the second tunnel on the SOUTH Section.

Mariana Miclăuș
General Manager Metrorex S.A.

On the SOUTH SECTION of the future M6 Metro Line, 1 Mai – Tokyo, work continues at a fast pace in the area of the station and launch shaft of the future Tokyo metro station.

You can watch the preparatory activities here: https://youtu.be/vS_hpws7dIM

TBM equipment has been unloaded in the area of the future metro station and assembly procedures have started.

Tunnel boring will start in April.

Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai – Otopeni) is moving ahead towards new milestones.

Three huge components of the first TBM that will bore one of the tunnels of the M6 Metro Line, on the SOUTH Section, 1 Mai – Tokyo, have been brought to the future Tokyo Metro station on the night of March 03-04.

In the link you can see the transportation and unloading operations: https://youtu.be/NErvNZNaM1A

Among the components brought in, the TBM’s 128-ton mechanical shield is now at the construction site where the giant machine is to be assembled.

Once the transportation of all the component parts has been completed, the giant ‘mole’ will be assembled in the space from where it will start operating underground 24/7.

The TBM installation period is expected to start next week and last about a month.

The first “mole” that will dig one of the two tunnels of the M6 Metro Line, on the SOUTH Section, within the framework of the contract “Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai-Otopeni). Design and Build – Civil Works for Lot 1.1: 1 Mai-Tokyo”, is heading to the future Tokyo metro station, starting tonight.

For a giant, agabaritic machine like the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), preparations involve successive stages, starting with transportation to the starting point of the tunnel boring (the future Tokyo subway station), continuing with the assembly of the parts of the “mole” in the special space set aside for this process, and ending with the moment when the machine can start the actual work of digging the tunnel 24/7.

Starting tonight, March 3 – 4, the component parts of the TBM will be transported throughout the week. The mechanical shield, the cutting head, which weighs 128 tons, is among the first parts to arrive at the future “Tokyo” metro station.

The assembly of the components will start next week and will last about a month.

The public will be informed about the start of TBM’s work through official communications.

M6 Metro Line will provide a direct connection between Gara de Nord to Otopeni International Airport. It will have a route of 14,2 km and will include 12 metro stations: Pajura, Expoziției, Piața Montreal, Gara Băneasa, Aeroport Băneasa, Tokyo, Washington, Paris, Bruxelles, Otopeni, Ion I. C. Brătianu, Aeroport Otopeni.

Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai – Otopeni) is a project of public utility, of national interest, according to Government Decision no. 496/2017, with subsequent amendments and additions, which ensures the mobility needs of people through the development of the Trans-European Transport Network.

Comunicat de presă

The first TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), designated to excavate the tunnels for the new M6 Metro Line. 1 Mai – Otopeni, arrived at the Port of Constanța on 6th September 2023. After a sea journey from Haydarpaşa Port, Turkey, the oversized machine, which will carve the underground path for Lot 1.1 of the new metro line, between the 1 Mai and Tokyo stations, began its epic journey. The TBM arrived in a single maritime transport, segmented into its component parts, and will be transported in a special convoy before beginning assembly preparations.