Two Lovat EPBMs have been ordered to excavate the twin tubes of the Terrassa section of the Barcelona metro.
The contractor, a joint venture of FCC Construccion, Copisa and Obrascon Huarte Lain, is to receive the first 6.9m diameter mixed face machine around the middle of the year for launch in October. Lovat is also to supply technical assistance and parts for both EPBMs as they bore the twin 3,727m long tunnels.
Lovat received an order just after the middle of 2007 for one machine from the JV, and there was an option to call up a second, identical EPBM. Late last year, Lovat said the option had been exercised for another RME270SE machine. The machine is to start its drive in 2009.
The project is being developed by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), which is the rail company of the autonomous Government of Catalonia. The project is a extension inland to Terrassa of the FGC network in Barcelona. FGC’s route runs includes new stations of Can Roca and Vallparadis-Universitat.
Geology along the route comprises sedimentary deposits including argillaceous, granular and cemented materials, and isolated layers of conglomerate and cemented deposits. The complete alignment is below groundwater with surface levels varying from 5m-24m from the invert of the segmentally lined tunnels.
Each 80m long EPBM is expected to advance at an average rate of 10m per day. The TBMs can produce 9,000kNm of torque and thrust is 65,000kN. They have been designed to bore at 160m radius and up to 4% incline.
