Rokycany-Pilsen line completes

10 May 2018


Czech Republic – Twin 9.89m-diameter 4.15km-long tunnels were successfully mined by a Herrenknecht multi-mode TBM (EPB to open single shield). Breakthrough took place in October 2017 and the tunnels form part of the Rokycany-Pilsen rail line.

Contractor Metrostav navigated the machines, in EPB mode with screw conveyor muck removal, through quartzite shale stone and clay soils for approximately 2/3 of the drive. For the final 1.1km of each, hard spilite rock prompted the switch to open single shield mode with belt conveyor muck removal.

The switch took two weeks and during this time, 19in disc cutters were installed instead of the 18in used up to that point. The larger diameter cutters allowed higher contact pressure in the hard rock, as well as longer running times.

"For variable ground conditions along the tunnel alignment, a convertible multi-mode TBM is the best and most flexible solution. It can be run in different tunnelling modes and thus operate in changing geologies," added Korbinian Kro¨ger, Herrenknecht project manager.