Momentum is building on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East Project, with four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) on order to excavate the twin tunnels on the project’s northern section, which is being delivered by Webuild as part of Terra Verde Joint Venture.

The machines are being supplied by China Railway Engineering Group (CREG), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of tunnel boring technology. Tailored to the geology of the northern corridor, the TBMs will use earth pressure balance technology to safely and efficiently navigate varied ground conditions while minimising impacts at the surface.

Each machine will stretch more than 100 metres in length and measure just over 7 metres in diameter. In line with SRL East’s sustainability commitments, all TBMs used on the project will be powered by 100% renewable electricity.

All four northern TBMs will launch from the project’s Burwood site, where excavation of the 19-metre-deep launch box is nearing completion. The first two TBMs will begin tunnelling south towards Glen Waverley next year, while the remaining two will head north to Box Hill at a later stage.

The arrival and assembly of the TBMs will mark a significant acceleration of works on SRL East, which continues to progress rapidly across the alignment.

When complete, SRL East will deliver a faster, more connected rail network for Melbourne’s growing communities, with trains carrying passengers from 2035.

Webuild is leading the joint venture with a 33.5% stake. Its partners include GS E&C of South Korea and Bouygues Construction Australia of France’s Bouygues. Commissioned by Suburban Rail Loop Authority, the joint venture’s contract entails the excavation of two parallel tunnels for nearly 10 kilometres between the future stations of Box Hill and Glen Waverley, the creation of 39 cross passages between them; two station boxes, two TBM launch sites, and one intervention and ventilation shaft.

Read more about the project here.

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About the Project

Webuild, as leader of the Terra Verde Joint Venture is delivering the contract to design and construct the Tunnels North contract of Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East, a project that will transform public transport in Melbourne amind strong population growth in the coming years.

Commissioned by Suburban Rail Loop Authority, the contract entails the excavation of two parallel tunnels for nearly 10 kilometres between the future stations of Box Hill and Glen Waverley; the creation of 39 cross passages between them; two station boxes; two tunnel access shafts; and one intervention and ventilation shaft. The tunnels will be excavated using tunnel-boring machines (TBMs).

Suburban Rail Loop is a 90-kilometre orbital rail line that will help transform the way Melbourne grows, delivering more public transport and more homes. The first stage, SRL East, is now under construction, with tunnelling to start in 2026 and trains taking passengers in 2035.