“Moles” preparing to head for Belgrade – Boring of subway tunnel to begin early next year

The City authorities have announced the start of the boring of the tunnel for the first subway line. In order to dig the tunnel, machines, so-called “moles,” are needed that will go underground. Acting Director of the Belgrade Metro and Train Public Company Andreja Mladenovic told RTS that the machines, specially made at the request of Belgrade, had been made in China, and that they were expected to be on site by the end of this year.

Andreja Mladenovic, guesting on the Belgrade Chronicle show, said that factory testing of two “moles,” which had been made in China specifically for the Belgrade Subway, was to begin, representing the beginning of the implementation of the tunnel network.

How other countries built their subways

London built its first line, only six kilometers long, in about three years. Budapest was even faster - in just two years, Moscow needed three years, and Warsaw was building its subway system for a quarter of a century.

When it comes to building new lines in big cities, New York waited for a full 45 years for the Second Avenue, which is three kilometers long. London was building its new Elizabeth Line for 13 years, but it is 118 kilometers long.

Madrid built 56 kilometers of new network in just four years.

The most expensive kilometer was in New York, at more than a billion and a half dollars, while the cheapest kilometer was bored in Madrid.

– We will have the opportunity to make sure that the machines are fully completed. This is the beginning of factory testing, which lasts about 15 to 20 days and includes numerous technical checks. Contractors and subcontractors will be present, which are responsible for making sure that the machines are manufactured in accordance with our requirements and technical documentation – says Mladenovic.

Both machines in Serbia by September

According to him, the machines were specially manufactured in China for Belgrade, are completely new and, after testing, will be disassembled. Transport to our country is expected to begin in June.

– I hope that the situation in the world will not delay the transport, because it is planned to be by ship or train, which we will arrange next week in China. We expect that both machines will arrive in Belgrade by the end of September. After that, they will be reassembled and installed on site, where they will do the work – says Mladenovic.

He also points out that there will be three machines on the first line. In the first phase, two machines are being installed, from Makisko Polje to the Pancevo Bridge. He adds that the first line is 15 kilometers long, and the tunnel section is 11 kilometers long.

– We still have two kilometers of the above-ground section and two kilometers of the so-called shallow excavation, which is also a tunnel section bored using the classic method. The two machines will start at the same time or with a month’s difference, but these are details that are up to the contractor – points out Mladenovic.

“Launching” of the machines

Mladenovic also notes that the machine needs an electrical power supply of about ten megawatts, which is provided in cooperation with state structures, the City of Belgrade and the Government of Serbia.

– Providing ten megawatts in two places is not easy, but we succeeded. The construction of the network to the locations where the machines will be launched is currently being completed - one at Bele Vode and the other at Karaburma. They will head towards each other and we will halve the 11-kilometer section in time, because we have two machines, which will be extracted near the Fairgrounds – says Mladenovic.

The Chronicle guest points out that the installation of the machines is expected by the end of the year, while the tunnel digging process depends on geological conditions.

– The boring will begin early next year. The machines will be installed by the end of this year, after which they will begin work. The machine advances an average of ten meters per day. The stations are about one kilometer apart and we expect to reach the next station within three months – concludes Mladenovic.

JKP Beogradski metro i voz Beograd

PUC Belgrade Metro and Train

Andreja Mladenović

moles

Belgrade Subway