Sao Paulo Metro Line 5
 

Successful second deployment thanks to local refurbishment

The task

With a population of 21 million, the mega-city of São Paulo has been successively extending its metro network since 1974. Line 5 is to be extended into the city center and linked up with the remaining metro network. Part of the extension is being realized as a single-tube two-lane tunnel. In an effort to manufacture it as efficiently as possible, an EPB machine from Herrenknecht is to be used which has already excavated 6.5 kilometers for Line 4. The new tunnel cross-section must, however, be around a meter wider.

The Herrenknecht service solution

The EPB Shield already proved its worth during construction of Line 4. Now it is to be made fit again for Line 5. Specialists from the local Herrenknecht subsidiary in Brazil are collaborating closely with the Service department at headquarters in Schwanau on the requisite refurbishment work.

The diameter is being increased by around one meter to 10.54 meters to enable tunnelling of the two-lane sections. Therefore, the existing cutting wheel center is composed with new cutting wheel parts manufactured specifically for the project to form a new suitable cutting wheel. Furthermore, many of the TBM components such as the complex main bearing, for example, are dismantled, their functions checked and damaged or worn parts replaced. The machine is then ready for operation again and successfully completes tunnelling for Line 5.

Project advantages

• Local support staff and specialists from the Service department at headquarters work very well together to achieve an efficient refurbishment process.

• Project-specific refurbishment of the EPB Shield takes place directly on site.

• The investment costs for the subsequent project can be optimized thanks to professional rebuilding.