The 8.54m diameter EPBM CREC 1148, designed and manufactured by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co (CREG), was launched last week.
The shield section includes twin bores, each about 6km long and with a maximum depth of 55m, which will be completed by two EPBMs.
The geology consists mainly of clay, silt, sandstone, conglomerate, claystone and marlstone. The EPBM will bore under Lake Küçükçekmece and the proposed Istanbul canal.
The two EPBMs – CREC 1148 and CREC 1149 – are each 135m long and have maximum thrust speeds of 80mm/min.
In addition, CREG has designed a double screw conveyor system and carried out strata reinforcement to overcome the high water pressures.
CREC 1149 is being assembled and will be launched in September.
The Halkali-Ispartakule high-speed railway project will improve passenger and freight transport between Istanbul, from the existing Halkali Station, and Ispartakule.
