The first TBM shield on LK No. 104 Limanowa – Klęczany sails to Polish

Budimex increases flexibility and capabilities in the implementation of contracts in the tunnel works and underground construction segment. As part of construction works on railway line No. 104 on section D Limanowa – Klęczany siding, the consortium of Budimex and Gülermak has received a new boring machine from Changsha in China. Specialists performed a FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) on site – checking the compliance of the product with the terms of the contract before transport. The machine is already sailing by sea to Polish. It will arrive at the port of Gdynia in the second week of December. It will start work in the spring of 2025.

This is the first of two TBM shields that will work on this construction site. The four-times larger disc with a diameter of 16 meters is currently in the final stages of construction in the factory.

Since March this year, the consortium of Budimex and Gülermak has been carrying out works on railway line No. 104 on section D Limanowa – Klęczany siding. Budimex is the leader of the consortium with a 50% share, and its composition is complemented by Gülermak Air Sanayi Inşaat ve Taahhüt (25% share) and Gülermak (25% share). As part of the contract, specialists allocated 3 days for the technical acceptance of the TBMS EPB boring machine with a diameter of 4.8m from the Chinese company CRCHI and performed the FAT (Factory Acceptance Test).

The works in the Małopolskie Voivodeship include the modernization of the railway line No. 104 Chabówka – Nowy Sącz, and its longest and most expensive part is the section between Limanowa and the Klęczany siding. The modification of this route is of key importance for connecting the planned Podłęże-Piekiełko line with Zakopane and Nowy Sącz. The project, worth PLN 1.93 billion net, is to be completed by the end of 2026.

“For over half a year we have been carrying out works on LK No. 104 on section D Limanowa – Klęczany siding. Taking into account its value, it is undoubtedly one of the most important railway projects in recent years, next to Warszawa Zachodnia. That is why we have invested together with Gülermak in a new boring machine. We plan to further develop competences in this area and independently carry out work on subsequent contracts,” says Maciej Olek, Member of the Management Board, Director of Railway Construction at Budimex S.A.

“The TBM shield has been prepared based on the unique experience of our engineers and in accordance with their guidelines. We have selected the parameters of the machine specifically for this task, taking into account the ground conditions, so that the drilling process runs smoothly and safely. This is our sixth TBM in Poland and one of almost 50 with which our teams have drilled tunnels around the world,” emphasizes Onur Erkus, Director of the TBM Department for Europe, Gülermak.

Acceptance of the Drilling Machine in China

In September this year in Changsha, China, the technical acceptance of the TBMS EPB boring machine with a diameter of 4.8 m began. During the 3-day tests, the machine was verified in terms of geometry, mechanics, hydraulics and electrics. 11 people took part in the acceptance, including 3 people from Budimex and 2 people from the Ordering Party, i.e. PKP PLK SA. In addition, due to safety requirements during drilling, the machine has been prepared for ATEX (ATmosphere EXplosible) certification, which is to be confirmed by representatives of the Central Mining Institute during FAT tests.

“The investment in the Małopolskie Voivodeship will be enriched by a new TBMS boring machine. A specialized machine that we tested in China will drill the ground on section D Limanowa – Klęczany siding with a length of almost 4 kilometers. During our stay at the factory, we also had the opportunity to see the largest TBM with a diameter of 16.5 m, the size of a 4-storey apartment block, and the second TBMs under this contract (10.6 m diameter), the FAT of which is scheduled to be commissioned at the end of October 2024,” adds Marcin Curkowicz, Head of the Technical Department – Railway Branch of Budimex SA.

“The shield is flowing by sea from China. The cargo consists of 36 parts, of which the heaviest element weighs 87 tons. The cutterhead  alone with a diameter of 4.8 m  weighs 41 tons. The whole will be assembled on site, on the construction site. The TBM will drill the tunnel for about 10 months. This is the smaller of the two machines used on this construction site. Currently, there is a bigger sister in the factory” – specifies Cezary Iwanowski, Deputy Project Director, Gülermak.

According to the plan, the acceptance was completed on September 4 this year, after which the machine will be dismantled and sent back to the port of Shanghai, and then by sea it will be sent to Polish.