TUNNEL BORING MACHINES--A MEANS TO RAILWAY LINE IMPROVEMENT

The paper which describes tunnel boring machines (used in Europe) for improving railway routes by shortening them and reducing grades, mentions the proposed tunnel beneath the English Channel for a double-track railway line, and suggests improvements in tunnel equipment for improved productivity of the machines. The machines may be one of two main types; the soft machine is usually of the face trace type and is capable of cutting vertical sides and arch roof; machines used for hard rock cutting are generally of the full face type and are capable of cutting a circular bore only. Figures are presented which describe the machines and illustrate their mode of action. Instances are describe of the use of the boring machine when both hard and soft rock are encountered together, when fault zones are encountered, and when the rock being worked upon, deteriorated on exposure to air (necessitating shotcrete application). Experience of the Swiss Federal Railways is described, as well as European designs which call for concrete ties to be nested into the slabs. Design features are listed that will not necessitate stoppage of the boring machine for any abnormal length of time. Standardizing of the size of machine components is urged. The use of boring machines is highly economical and rapid, and can be highly automated (using one operator only per shift).

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Authors:
  • MacNabb, T C
• Publication Date: 1974-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 779-796
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 75
  • Issue Number: 468
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Boring; Construction; Economics; Faults; Lines of track; Productivity; Railroads; Relocation (Facilities); Rock excavation; Rocks; Slopes; Standardization; Subways; Tunneling; Tunneling machines
• Uncontrolled Terms: Grades
• Old TRIS Terms: Fault zones; Line relocation; Rock tunneling; Subway construction
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Economics; Geotechnology; Highways; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080932
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 75-648-9
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 1981 12:00AM