tunnelling-journal (1)
tunnelling-journal (1)
  • Home
  • Print
    • Subscribe
    • Tunnelling Journal
    • Canadian Tunnelling
    • Breakthrough
    • ITA Activity Report
    • A&NZ Journal
    • WTC Preview
    • Media Kit
  • Digital
    • Newsletter
    • E-Shots
    • TJ Digital edition
    • Products Page
    • Media Kit
  • Conferences
    • BTS Conference and Exhibition
    • Cutting Edge 2024
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Events Diary
  • Jobs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Podcast

Home > Australia’s first Autonomous TBM for Sydney Metro

Australia’s first Autonomous TBM for Sydney Metro

Written by Tris Thomas on 02/04/2022 in News

Tagged: Autonomous,Herrenknecht,Sydney Olympic Park,Westmead

Australia’s first autonomous TBMs will be used to build twin 9km rail tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead. This work is part of the $2.16bn Western Tunnelling Package awarded in February to the Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke Consortium, which contracted Herrenknecht to design, build and deliver the machines.

151029 Maria Breakthrough Epping compressed

These two mega machines will utilise innovative artificial intelligence software, developed by Gamuda, to automatically steer, operate and monitor a number of TBM functions.

While an operator remains in control, the autonomous system takes on all repetitive tasks from the operator with greater accuracy. The technology also allows the TBMs to be more accurate and precise, reducing the time required to excavate the nine-kilometre tunnels, therefore saving project costs.

While these machines look the same as others used on Sydney Metro projects, this technology means exact tunnelling speed and force is used. This lessens the impact on the equipment which reduces the amount of down-time for maintenance

The autonomous machines will join a fleet of TBMs that will build 24km tunnels from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta with two TBMs scheduled to start tunnelling from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park at the end of this year.

The two autonomous TBMs are expected to be in the ground by the end of 2023 to deliver the metro rail tunnels from Sydney Olympic Park to Westmead. Each autonomous machine is 1,266 tonne, 165m long, and designed to excavate through sandstone and shale.

They will tunnel an average of 200m per week with a team of 15 workers per shift.

 

Comments:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Digital Edition

More Like This

07/03/2025

Abstract submissions open for WTC2026, Montreal, Canada!

Abstract submissions open for WTC2026, Montreal, Canada!

The planning committee for WTC2026, to be held in Montreal, Canada from May 15th – 21st, 2026  has announced that…

03/01/2025

UK’s HARP project preferred bidder announced

UK’s HARP project preferred bidder announced

United Utilities has today announced its preferred bidder to design, build, finance and maintain the replacement of six tunnel sections…

17/12/2024

North East Link TBM achieves 1km milestone

North East Link TBM achieves 1km milestone

Tunnelling is powering ahead on Melbourne’s $11.1bn North East Link, as the first of two 15.6m diameter Herrenknecht TBMs has…

  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Magazine Archive

Newsletter

The latest from the Tunneling Journal direct to your inbox.

Social

Facebook Linkedin X-twitter Instagram
Youtube Soundcloud Linkedin Rounded Border Svgrepo Com White

Enquiries

TGS Media Ltd
The Old Library
Webster House
Dudley Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 1LE
United Kingdom

© Tunnelling Journal. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Admin

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok