The first four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the Suburban Rail Loop in Victoria have now been ordered and are scheduled for delivery in 2025, with the preferred contractor to supply the TBMs now revealed.
Herrenknecht, one of the world’s leading TBM manufacturers will provide the TBMs that will drill 16 kilometres of twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley. All four will be launched from Clarinda – two drilling south to Cheltenham and two north towards Glen Waverley – travelling close to 90 metres a week.
All four TBMs will be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity while two of the TBMs will come to Victoria after being used on the Sydney Metro.
Two types of TBMs will be operating along the project’s alignment – two slurry machines will be used in the northern section, while in a Victorian first, two convertible machines will be used in the south – with the TBMs set to be converted from slurry to earth pressure balance machines to work through softer ground in Cheltenham.
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In a world first, one of the eight TBM crews will be an all-women team, with more than 600 women already having applied. Applications for this opportunity close on Friday 4 October.
Construction is forging ahead across all six SRL station sites, including the excavation of a TBM launch site in Burwood and 1400 people already working on the project.
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny revealed that Herrenknecht was the preferred contractor to provide the TBMs on September 23, saying that the project would help to provide greater connections and opportunities for locals.
“The Suburban Rail Loop will reshape how we grow – and will deliver 70,000 more homes above and around the six new stations,” Kilkenny said.