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.
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