CREG 1238 Slurry TBM Passes FAT, Ready For Singapore CR116 Metro Project

The CREG 1238 Slurry TBM is CREG ‘s first double-shell shield exported for the project

Earlier this month, China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. (CREG) developed and produced the 7.22 m-diameter CREG 1238 Slurry TBM which passed its Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) with flying colors. For use in the Cross Island CR116 Metro Project, Singapore will receive the TBM.

The CR116 Metro Project calls for building the Ang Mo Kio Interchange Station as well as twin bored tunnels that will link the future Teck Ghee and Ang Mo Kio Interchange Stations. These projects are part of the Singapore Land Transport Authority’s Cross Island Line. An intermediate launch shaft will be constructed in the middle of the tunnel alignment between the two stations in order to launch the TBM needed to build the tunnels.

The twin 600-meter mainline tunnels will travel through primarily Bukit Timah Granite with fracture zones interleaved, having a minimum curve radius of 300 meters. Along the alignment, there are also parts of Old Alluvium strata and Kallang strata with water pressures as high as 4 bars.

CREG 1238 Slurry TBM
CREG

A double-shell shield has been added to the CREG 1238 Slurry TBM to enable easier dismantling inside the tunnel in order to handle up to four launches and relaunches. In order to minimize the amount of time needed to prepare for the next tunnel drive, special auxiliary structures are also made to enable the speedy construction and disassembly of the segment erector, backup systems, and main drive. An integrated pipeline bracket system has been devised in order to make the assembly and disassembly of slurry pipelines in the shield easier. Furthermore, the pipeline extension gantry has been engineered to deploy within the launch shaft in order to circumvent the difficulties associated with launching the CREG 1238 Slurry TBM.

The civil contract worth $644 million was given to Gammon Construction and Engineering Pte. Ltd – Bachy Soletanche Singapore Pte. Ltd. Joint Venture by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the design and construction of the Ang Mo Kio station and tunnels under the first phase of the Cross Island Line (CRL1). Serving current and upcoming developments in the eastern, north-eastern, and western corridors, it will connect centers including Changi area, Punggol Digital District, and Jurong Lake District. Commuters will find it easier to travel throughout the rail network as the CRL will have nearly half of its stations as interchanges with other rail lines.

From Aviation Park to Bright Hill, there are 12 stations along the 29-kilometer CRL1. This will help over 100,000 homes in the residential and industrial regions of Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, Defu, Tampines, Loyang, Serangoon North, and Hougang. Common areas like Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Changi Beach Park will be easier to reach by public transportation thanks to CRL1.