Seeing 2 Giant Robots Digging at S9 Station of the Nhổn – Hà Nội Metro Line

Two robots named “Swift” and “Bold,” measuring over 100 meters in length and weighing approximately 850 tons, will be performing tunneling from S9 station to S12 station, covering a total distance of 4 kilometers.

S9 Kim Ma Underground Station is one of the most complex subway stations in the Nhơn – Hà Nội Metro Project. This location is where two tunnel-boring robots, manufactured by Herrenkecht (Germany) using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology, will be utilized. Each robot measures over 100 meters in length and weighs about 850 tons.

In the Nhơn – Hà Nội Metro Project, the two tunnel-boring robots will tunnel from S9 to S12 over a total distance of 4 kilometers.

TBM is a large machine with many complex components such as cutting heads, excavation shields, mixing arms, pressure chambers, push cylinders, and soil transport systems.

In rainy conditions, the TBM is kept dry, safe, and ready to tunnel from S9 to S12 over a distance of 4 kilometers.

At a depth of 20 meters underground, a high-capacity drainage pump system is installed to prevent flooding.

Construction of the underground stations from S9 to S12 is ensured to be safe, considering both labor and technical factors. Notably, at S9 underground station, the two tunnel-boring robots are regularly inspected and always ready for operation.

Providing additional information on the construction progress of the underground stations, Mr. Lê Trung Hiếu, Deputy Head of the Urban Railway Management Board of Hanoi (MRB) for the Nhơn – Hà Nội line, stated that as of early October 2023, the area currently under construction for the S9 Kim Ma station has been restored to road surface after three years of barriers (Kim Ma – Nui Truc section). The road surface has been repaved, allowing vehicles to travel straight through this section without needing to follow a winding path as before.

The second floor of S9 station, the ramp from the Voi Phuc area connecting to this station, has been largely completed.

As of now, the overall progress of the Nhơn – Hà Nội railway project stands at approximately 77.7%, with the elevated section at 99.5% completion and the underground section completed at 36.5%. Tunneling is expected to commence before the Lunar New Year in 2024. The tunneling from S9 to S12 is projected to take about two years.

How does the TBM tunneling machine operate?

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