Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg and the Transport Minister Ketil Solvik-Olsen have launched the first two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) which will begin excavation on Follo Line Project.
The tunnel boring machines, all weighing around 2400 tonnes, will excavate 18.5 of the 20 km long tunnel from one centrally located access point at Åsland. Each machine will dig roughly 9 km tunnel for the new double-track line between Oslo and Ski.
“We are very impressed with the work which has been done at Åsland since the contract was signed with Acciona Ghella Joint Venture in March 2015. Thanks to a great effort by the main contractor and subcontractors, the project is right on track. The project is now entering a new phase and the start of the first tunnel boring machine is a huge milestone”, Deputy Director General Gunnar G. Løvås, from the Norwegian National Rail Administration said.
Acciona/Ghella JV will use four TBMs to deliver the 18.5-km twin-bore tunnel, as part of the Follo Line Project.
The Follo Line will form the core part of the InterCity development southwards from Oslo. The project will comprise a 20 km long tunnel which will be Norway’s first long twin tube rail tunnel.
Photo: Nicolas Tourrenc/AGJV
Share on:
