Lovat TBM for Krolsky

In April, Canadian TBM manufacturer, Lovat, saw one of its 9.5m diameter machines accepted three months ahead of schedule following successful testing for the Krolsky Tunnel Project on the Tayshet-Abakan rail line in Russia.

Contractor, Bamnetonnelstroy of Krasnoryarsk, Russia, accepted "Martha", a single shield rock TBM. Weighing in at 1,133t, the RME375SE Series 21400 dual mode machine can be used in open mode for rock and closed mode to convert to an EPBM if significant water flows are encountered. The expected geology is a mixture of slates, limestone and granite over the 2,250m tunnel route.

The TBM handover was marked by a ceremony attended by senior management of Bamtonnelstroy, Hatch Mott MacDonald the tunnel lining designer, Export Development Canada who provided export credit agreements and Royal Bank of Canada who arranged project financing.

Lovat operated to an accelerated schedule for assembling the TBM in order to avoid the winter weather, which can become arduous as early as September.

As it stands, current plans call for the TBM to begin excavation by the end of September this year.