Welcome to T&TI’s yearly round up of ‘Machinery, Materials & Equipment’. We’ve been running this edition for many years now, and judging by the feedback we get, it’s a service worth continuing! The only difference this year is the new format that follows T&TI’s recent re-design. Hopefully it will make it a clearer and easier to read guide to all your equipment needs, whether it be a computer program or a record-breaking diameter TBM.
Speaking of record breakers, the news this month makes encouraging reading, apart from the obvious Boston fiasco, with plenty of ‘mega projects’ mentioned.
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The biggest of all is the Brenner Base Tunnel, linking Austria with Italy under the Alps. Having been on the drawing board for some 20 years, it’s great news to see this 56km long twin tube rail tunnel with over 50km of associated tunnels, start in earnest. From Canada we hear news of the start up of what is claimed to be the world’s largest hard rock TBM at 14.4m diameter, on the 10.4km long Niagara Tunnel Project. In India two 10m diameter TBMs will bore 43.5km of water tunnel, setting a claim that this will be the longest single tunnel with no intermediate access points. Thailand promises a 40km long water diversion tunnel, whilst in Spain the claimed world’s largest TBM breaks through on Madrid’s M30 ring road project.
This year’s manufacturer’s listing shows we have the tools, the news shows we have the projects, and we know we’ve got the skills; so here’s to what looks like a bright future for the international tunnelling industry!
