High-speed rail breakthrough in Galicia

30 November 2011

Spanish contractor FCC completed a breakthrough on an 8.13km tunnel for the Das Maceiras-Vigo section of the Eje Atlantico de Alta Velocidad (Atlantic Axis high speed rail) on 23 November.

The project consists of two 9.5m diameter tunnels being excavated by two double shield TBMs. Wednesday’s breakthrough at Vigo in the left tunnel saw the conclusion of two years and eight months of boring through granite rock, with some shale.

A breakthrough in the second tube is expected within two weeks.

The Das Maceiras-Vigo stretch of high-speed rail is in the Galicia region of Spain and will connect to Portugal.