Moles for Belgrade Subway leaving China for Serbia

Two TBMs (tunnel-boring machines), better known as “moles,” which will build the underground tunnels of the first line of the Belgrade Subway, are leaving China for Serbia, the Public Utility Company Belgrade Metro and Train announced.

After successful factory tests, their several-week transport to Europe is ahead, and then to Belgrade, where they will be prepared to begin digging about 11 kilometers of underground tunnels of the first phase of the first line of the subway, Beoinfo reported.

The transport of the “moles” will be carried out in two stages. In the first stage, one complete TBM is being shipped from China, along with some of the components of the second machine, while in the second stage, its remaining parts will be shipped.

The machines and their components will travel by sea from China to Europe, and their arrival is expected by October. After that, if the transport proceeds according to the planned dynamics and navigation conditions, their further transport along the Danube to Belgrade will follow.

After all the components have been delivered to Serbia, preparations will follow for the assembly of the “moles” and their placement at the launch sites, from where the tunnel excavation of the first phase of the first line of the Belgrade Subway will begin.

One “mole” will begin its work from the “Bele vode” station in Makis and will move in the direction of the “Belgrade Fair” station, while the other will begin excavation from the launch shaft on Karaburma, near the Pancevo Bridge. In this way, the two machines will begin work from opposite sides of the underground route and advance towards each other.

The underground tunnel, with a total length of about 11 kilometers, is divided into two sections, which allows two “moles” to simultaneously carry out work on different parts of the route. This way of organizing the work will enable parallel tunnel excavation and more efficient implementation of one of the most technically demanding segments of the construction of the first subway line.

The TBMs were manufactured at the CRCHI factory in Changsha, China, where they successfully completed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). During the testing, all key mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and control systems were checked, confirming that the machines meet the highest technical standards and are ready for transport and operation.

The “moles” are the most modern technology for mechanized tunnel excavation. Their application enables precise, safe and efficient construction of underground tunnels, with minimal impact on the terrain surface, which is of particular importance when carrying out work in densely built-up urban areas.

The departure of the “moles” from China and their delivery to Belgrade mark an important step in the implementation of the first line of the Belgrade Subway and the beginning of preparations for one of the most important phases of the project - the construction of underground tunnels, the statement says.

JKP Beogradski metro i voz Beograd

TBMs

tunnel boring machines

moles

Belgrade Subway