Tunnel boring machines arrive for Doha Metro project

Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) has received four more tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for phase one of the Doha Metro project.

The TBMs Al Mayeda, Al Khor, Lehwaila and Al Wakra were manufactured by Germany’s Herrenknecht and will be used for the Red Line North and South Underground projects.

TBMs are ideal for Doha; they interfere very little to the vibrant and active city life. Needing only one point of entry, they can tunnel below the city streets, practically unknown to the population above.

They are also ideal for longer lengths of uninterrupted tunnelling, as is required for the Doha Metro project, Qatar Rail said yesterday in a press statement.

Al Mayeda and Al Khor will be used for the Red Line North Underground. The design and build for the project will be undertaken by a joint venture led by Italy’s Salini Impregilo.

Four TBMs (Lebretha, Al Mayeda, Al Khor and Al Bidda) already on site to be assembled) are proposed to bore required tunnels for the Red Line North project.

Lehwaila and Al Wakra will be launched for the Red Line South Underground project. The design and build for the project will be undertaken by a joint venture led by the French-Qatari company QDVC  Five TBMs (Lehwaila, Al Wakra, Mushaireb, Doha and Al Zubara) will be utilised for the tunnelling on the Red Line South Underground project.

Each TBM will travel between 7km and 9km and take about two years to complete their journeys. The TBM average speed will be between 12m/day and 21m/day, depending on ground conditions. 

Daily excavation quantity will be over 600 cubic metres, with an estimated predicted total excavation quantity of over 5,000,000 cubic metres.

Work for Red Line North Underground comprises design and construction of about 13.4km twin-bored tunnel, including seven underground stations, between the proposed Msheireb Underground Station and Doha Golf Course via Doha West Bay. Tunnels will be built at an average depth of about 20 meters below ground.

Red Line South Underground extends from Msheireb in the north to Hamad International Airport in the south. Work includes seven underground stations and design and construction of about 14km twin-bored tunnel to be built at an average depth of about 25 meters below ground.

Qatar Rail is awaiting the delivery of another 16 TBMs in the coming months, to be utilised between the Red Line North, Red Line South, Green Line and Gold Line Underground projects.

The Green Line, a joint venture led by Austria’s PORR Bau, will receive six TBMs, while the Gold Line – recently awarded a design and build contract to a joint venture led by Greece’s Aktor SA – will also receive six TBMs.

Reposted from The Peninsula