The first TBM on the NORTH Section of Metro Line 6 made the first rotation of its cutterhead today, marking the start of tunnel excavation on the Tokyo – Aeroport Otopeni stretch. The machine was launched at a ceremony that also included a blessing service for the two TBMs, officiated by priests of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on the working platform of the future Bruxelles metro station.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Director General of Metrorex S.A., Mariana Miclăuș, and of high-ranking officials, including Mr Ștefan-Ovidiu Popa, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, His Excellency Mr Katae Takashi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Romania, and His Excellency Mr Özgür Kıvanç Altan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Türkiye to Romania.
The event also brought together representatives of the central and local public authorities, of Metrorex S.A., of the contractor consortia responsible for carrying out the project works, of the subcontractors involved, and of the Supervisor.
“This day marks a new milestone in the construction of Metro Line 6. With the start of excavation on the NORTH Section, the tunnels towards Henri Coandă International Airport are beginning to take shape. It is a major infrastructure project that will significantly improve public transport and the mobility of the residents of Bucharest and the metropolitan area, and will connect the capital with the country’s main air gateway, Henri Coandă International Airport. Metrorex S.A. builds for people, for a sustainable future,” said Mariana Miclăuș, Director General of Metrorex S.A.
By tradition, TBMs are named after female saints. The machine launched today is called “Sfânta Parascheva” (Saint Parascheva), the protector of travellers, whose feast day is 14 October, shortly before the launch. It will excavate the first tunnel of the NORTH Section, on Line 1. The name Parascheva means “preparation”, a fitting meaning for a machine that prepares the way for the metro. The second machine, “Sfânta Ecaterina” (Saint Catherine), will excavate the second tunnel, on Line 2. Saint Catherine is the patron saint of engineers, and her symbol, the wheel, recalls the cutterhead that digs the tunnel. Together, the two names represent both those for whom we are building the metro – the passengers – and those who are building it – the engineers.
Tunnelling on the NORTH Section is carried out in two drives, starting from the launch shaft at the future Bruxelles station. In the first drive, the tunnels will be excavated towards the future Tokyo station, the connection point with the SOUTH Section of the line. Excavation works began today on Line 1 and will follow on Line 2. In the second drive, the machines will be relaunched from Bruxelles station towards Aeroport Otopeni, on each line. The tunnels will provide the connection with the SOUTH Section of Metro Line 6, as well as the link between the six stations of the NORTH Section: Washington, Paris, Bruxelles, Otopeni, Ion I.C. Brătianu and Aeroport Otopeni.
The TBM “Sfânta Parascheva” is an EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) machine, with a total length of 103 metres (including the back-up train) and a weight of 602 tonnes (shield – 380 tonnes, back-up train – 222 tonnes). The cutterhead has a diameter of 6.57 metres (excavation diameter). The machine is adapted to the geological conditions along the route – sandy clay, Colentina gravels and silty sand, with the water table at a depth of 2–7 metres. The estimated average advance is 14 metres per day, equivalent to 10 tunnel rings of 1.4 metres each. As it excavates and removes the soil, the TBM installs the precast concrete rings that form the tunnel.
Watch the video of the event here: https://youtu.be/TIBMcqqUYXM
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