Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. Infrastructure: AKTOR started drilling at the 4th tunnel...

Infrastructure: AKTOR started drilling at the 4th tunnel on the Apata-Cata section of the Brasov-Sighisoara railway section

February 5, 2025

The construction company AKTOR is now boring all four tunnels on the thread of the future Brasov-Simeria railway line, part of the Rhine-Danube Corridor, Brasov-Sighisoara section, subsection 2: Apata-Cata after starting the 4th TBM, named Konstantina, during mid-December.   With a length of 100 metres, the 1,500 ton tunnel boring machine started biting the hill’s slope in a location just 4 km west from Racos , joining TBM Alexandra which started in mid-October and is now already working in pitch-black conditions. The two TBMs will realize a pair of tunnels long of 5.1 km in the direction of Homorod. This is the northern pair of tunnels bored by Aktor on this future segment of railway, and is continuing the southern pair of tunnels, long of 6.9 km, where TBMs Varvara and Eleni started work in the spring and already reached deep inside the mountain, in the direction of Apata.   “This is a large-scale work, one of the few projects in Europe where four TBMs are boring four tunnels at the same time, proof of AKTOR’s ability to deliver state-of-the-art infrastructure projects that enhance connectivity across Romania and the wider European region. The entire team is proud to be part of this historical enterprise which will contribute to strengthening the Rhine-Danube Corridor, contributing to the region’s sustainable growth and mobility for generations to come. I thank the workers involved for their effort and dedication and the authorities for the support”, Alexandros Exarchou, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Aktor Group, stated.   As they progress inside the mountain, the TBMs mount around them pre-cast concrete segments 1.5 meters wide each, like a ring, to create the circular shape of the tunnel.   “The process of installing a TBM and starting the boring operation is complex and requires detailed planning, preparation, and execution. By using TBMs, we can construct tunnels with greater precision, safety, and environmental consideration than traditional methods allow. This innovative approach to tunnel construction opens new possibilities for developing infrastructure while minimizing the impact on the surrounding area”, explains Sotirios Koropoulis, the Project Director for the Apata-Cata section, Lot 2 construction site.   The tunnels will be connected by galleries: 13 connecting galleries, with a total length of 601 linear meters for the Ormenis tunnel, respectively 10 connecting galleries, with a total length of 417 linear meters for the Homorod tunnel.   The Ormenis/Homorod underpasses will each consist of two railway tunnels with one railway line each. The distance between the two bored tunnels will be variable and is planned to be between 30m near the entrance areas and 70m near the high overburden area.   The four tunnels will have an inner diameter of 8.6 meters (an outer diameter of 9.4 meters, due to the concrete lining). The four TBMs used by Aktor have been built by the HERREKNECHT company. A TBM can drill large-scale tunnels with an average of 10-15 meters per day, six days per week, and one day of maintenance. The tunnels are on the thread of the future Brasov-Simeria railway line, part of the Rhine-Danube Corridor, Brasov-Sighisoara section, subsection 2: Apata-Cata. The project is co-financed by the European Union, and the contract was signed by the National Railway Company (CFR SA) with the consortium of AKTOR SA – Alstom Transport SA – Arcada Company.

Read in full - click here
EVA Bucharest: The Virtual Reality arenas that can build real connections between colleagues

In a world where remote, hybrid, or flexible work has become the norm, connections between colleagues outside the office are more important than ever. Recent studies show that these bonds boost performance, engagement, and employee loyalty, and companies that understand this are increasingly investing in shared experiences. It’s not just about fun; it’s an essential […]

Romanian far-right MEP Diana Șoșoacă attends Russia Today anniversary in Moscow

Romanian far-right, pro-Russian member of the European Parliament Diana Șoșoacă was present in Moscow on October 19, where she participated in the 20th anniversary of the Russia Today television station, an event attended by president Vladimir Putin. The MEP’s presence in Moscow was announced by the party she leads, SOS Romania, and presented as a […]

Intelligence Service warns of disinformation campaign after explosion at Bucharest apartment block

The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) has warned of a coordinated online disinformation campaign spreading false information about the recent explosion at the apartment building in Bucharest’s Rahova district, which killed three people and injured 15 others.  In a statement released on Monday, October 20, SRI said that in recent days, numerous conspiracy...

Romania’s Madrigal Choir returns to Spain in November

The “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” National Chamber Choir will perform in Spain for the first time in 31 years as part of a special tour celebrating Romania’s National Day and the long-standing diplomatic ties between the two countries. Between November 24 and 30, under the direction of Anna Ungureanu, the choir will hold concerts in […]

Exim Banca Românească intensifies dialogue with the business environment for the development of tailored financial solutions

Exim Banca Românească will organize, in the coming period, a series of meetings with representatives of the business communities in the main economic centres of the country, an initiative that is part of the Bank’s strategic endeavour to strengthen the partnership with the business environment and to gather relevant market perspectives, to underpin the development […]

22 kg of cannabis found in passenger’s luggage at Bucharest airport

Romanian Border Police have seized roughly 22 kilograms of cannabis at Bucharest’s Henri Coandă International Airport (Otopeni) after discovering the drugs in the checked luggage of a 35-year-old Albanian citizen arriving from Athens, Greece. According to the official statement, officers from the Bucharest Airports...