QATAR: Qatar Rail celebrated the completion of tunnelling on the Red Line North section of the metro when a TBM broke through between Legtaifiya and Qatar University stations on March 21.
Boring of the 11·3 km tunnel started on July 19 2014 and used four earth pressure balance TBMs. They achieved an average of 30 m per day at their peak, with the best daily rate of 42 m set by Lebretha on March 29 2015.
Work on the Red Line North package is being carried out by the ISG joint venture of Impregilo, SK E&C and Galfar Al Misnad. Covering the section from Msheireb to Lusail, it includes seven underground stations and two above ground. QR reports that this section is more than 70% complete.
‘We and our colleagues in ISG have had to overcome some significant challenges’, said Qatar Rail Managing Director Abdulla Al Subaie. ‘It is well know that one of our TBMs was flooded one year ago and the achievement today shows how effective our recovery operations were and that overall project progress was not affected.’
The north-south Red Line will link Lusail to Al Wakra, with a branch to Hamad International Airport. There will be 18 stations on the 41 km route. Construction is split into two packages, with a further five TBMs working on the southern section.
Tunnelling for the first phase of the metro is now 85% finished, with completion expected in the autumn. Six TBMs are being deployed on the Gold Line and 10 on the Green Line. QR reports that the project is 37% complete. Opening of the first three lines is expected in the fourth quarter of 2019.
- Fujita Corp, which is building the Red and Green line depots, has awarded Drake & Scull Rail a 340m riyal contract for mechanical, electrical and public health building services.
