British technology company, hyperTunnel has presented the world’s first underground structure constructed entirely by robots as part of an ongoing project for Network Rail. The underground structure was built at hyperTunnel’s R&D facility in the …
Continue readingCategory: Tunnels
Bank station upgrade: bespoke solution for pile interceptions (GroundEngPlus)
At the 2022 GE Basements and Underground Structures conference, Transport for London (TfL) senior engineer for tunnels Paul Dryden discussed a tricky pile intercept on the Bank Station capacity project. At the conference in October …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 24 March 2023
• Attempts to restart the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (IanVisits) • 20 years after Congestion Charge began, let’s recognise TfL as a tech innovator (OnLondon) • Weirdest ride ever! Riding through London’s new, pre-effluent …
Continue readingPop Art tunnel Michelangelo – Dragados & the Art of Tunnel Scanning
On July 20, 2022, the heat from an exploratory drill inside Montréal’s century old Mont-Royal railway tunnel, advance work for the city’s modern Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) automated Métro line, caused an explosion. It was …
Continue readingMini-TBMs could dig future tunnels more efficiently (Wired)
FOR DECADES, ENGINEERS seeking to build tunnels underground have relied on huge tube-like machines armed with a frightening array of cutting wheels at one end—blades that eat dirt for breakfast. These behemoths, called tunnel-boring machines, or TBMs, are …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 16 December 2022
• Rail industry mourns the death of Adrian Shooter CBE (RailNews) • How to analyse Marey time-distance, or stringline, route service charts (HomeSignal) • Enormous scale of new Germany-Denmark immersed mega-tunnel: video (B1M) • Five …
Continue readingHeathrow deploys robotic dog for cargo tunnel refurb (AirportIndustryNews)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and construction company, Mace have employed a ‘robotic dog’ to help improve efficiency and safety during the refurbishment of the airport’s cargo tunnel. ‘Spot the Dog’ was developed by Boston Dynamics …
Continue readingSan Jose BART extension single bore tunnel green lit by APTA peer review (RT&S)
In 2017, engineers from several firms performed a study for a proposed joint venture between the Valley Transportation Authority and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system to determine if a single-bore or dual-bore tunneling …
Continue reading$16B Hudson tunnel project to begin construction in late 2024 (SmartCitiesDive)
The long-delayed, $16 billion project to repair the existing Amtrak tunnels under the Hudson River and build a new two-track tunnel is about to move forward under the control of the Gateway Development Commission, which became the project …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 4 November 2022
• Fare warning: National rail fines quintupling to curb fare dodging (RailTechMag) • HS2’s 2nd tunnel boring machine sets off underneath London (RailUK) • Elizabeth line west to east cab ride: video (HiddenLondonHangouts) • To …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 12 September 2022
• The Queen’s final journey should be by Royal Train: Wolmar (Spectator) • Busy rail travel expected for the Queen’s Lying in State (IanVisits) • Forgotten parts of Paris’ Petite Ceinture (PlacesJournal) • Void uncovered …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 22 August 2022
• Vintage Intercity train Co launches 1st class service alternative to Avanti West Coast (BusinessLive) • Construction of Germany’s deepest S-Bahn station (TunnelOnline) • Advocates sue Montréal transit agency for cutting ads criticizing high fares …
Continue readingThe future of tunnelling: clients share safety info (NewCivilEng)
Safety guidance and training for tunnellers can boost efficiency and reduce costs. It has been a busy time for tunnelling projects. Tunnelling work on London’s 25km Tideway super sewer officially finished in April. The two …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 4 July 2022
• New powers for TfL to fine motorists caught in cycle lanes (Zag) • Video exploring the Northern Line Extension (NetworkNathan) • HS2 develops modular pre-fab tunnel arches (AnonWidower) • Long environmental assessments delay much …
Continue readingIstanbul low cost lessons from 3 yrs, 300 km of heavy rail build (TransitCosts)
Based on our study of Turkish rail construction, we found that there were four primary factors that kept construction costs low and the processes efficient. First, there was an ongoing political commitment spanning different administrations …
Continue reading