Category Archives: TBM

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.