Simon Hoblyn has been working for Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) since 2005 and is currently a senior project manager on Phase Two of the new Down Town Line (DTL). He manages tunneling works on the northern half, overseeing seven slurry TBMs and two EPBs of 6.6m diameter.
“Work has reached the TBM mobilization stage with a number of launch shafts bottoming out with the contractors preparing their sites for TBM delivery and assembly,” says Hoblyn. “Typical current day-to-day activity includes working with our contractors to ensure their designs and working methods are compatible with Singapore and LTA’s demanding requirements.
“Designs and methods carefully planned on paper can often not quite work in the real world requiring fine-tuning and adjustment on site. Management of these changes and adjustments keeps the job on track.”
Although every project has unique challenges and experiences to offer, for Hoblyn, working for the LTA stands apart from past experiences.
“I have spent the majority of my working life with tunnelling contractors working in hands-on positions on projects in Europe, North Africa and the Far East. Working for LTA, the developer and project manager, has given me a view of tunnel project management that I would not have seen with a contractor.
“I have been involved in outlining concept design for the tunnels for a new railway, then packaging into contracts, procuring contractors, developing designs and specifications and now supervising construction of the tunnels and associated structures. Thanks to LTA’s philosophy of proactive management I have been able to keep my hands-on approach through all these processes.”
LTA has a ‘transport masterplan’ which will involve tunnelling continuing for the rest of the decade, according to Hoblyn. He has worked for LTA for six years and should see completion of DLT2 tunnelling in the next two.
“After that I’m not really sure [what I will do], I can’t plan, personally, that far ahead.
“I am fortunate to be able to say I thoroughly enjoy my job. I have enjoyed tunnelling as a career since day one and I hope I will be able to say that for a good many years to come.”
Working for so long, so far away from home does not bother the Englishman.
“I come from a small fishing village in Cornwall and went to school in Plymouth. I never managed to work on the Saltash Tunnel or Plymouth’s Sewage Treatment Scheme so I have never worked at home and have taken working away from a home base as the norm throughout my career.
“Fortunately I enjoy travelling and have looked forward to the challenge of settling in to a new location or a new culture every few years. Of all the places I have worked though I can honestly say that Singapore has been the easiest to settle in to and maintain a sustainable work life balance.
“Stress is part of any job that requires the safe delivery of a quality product within a fixed schedule. The stress involved in tunnelling in an urban environment is amplified by the close proximity to sensitive structures and the general public. Stress is manageable though with a good life balance. For me that involves golf. The more stressed I get, it seems the worse my golf gets, but golf is only a game – isn’t it?”
Hoblyn graduated with Mining Engineering from The Royal School of Mines of Imperial College in 1988 and was, as he puts it, ‘enjoying a well-earned post university break’ when his mother decided it was time for him to work for a living.
“This was at the time TML was gearing up for the Channel Tunnel. They had placed a number of double page advertisements in the local paper – I had not heard of T&TI at the time (a terrible confession – ed.) – looking for fitters, sparks and other industry trades from Devonport Dockyard which was sadly winding down. I’d obviously got under my mum’s feet one too many times as she slapped the paper in my lap and insisted I write off on spec in case they needed engineers.
“Of course they did, and that was the end of my gap month. After a brief interview I started hanging plumb bobs, chasing lasers and dodging curses from lead miners and pit bosses. The craic was addictive though so when the Channel Tunnel was over I happily followed the work to Liverpool, Cumbria, Denmark, London, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Egypt and back to Singapore where I have been for the last nine years now.”
No tunneller would dream of suggesting that they learned the job in the classroom. The unforeseen challenges and dangers of the trade only become apparent with years of experience.
“I could recount the nightshift on a job in London where following the opening of a club opposite the site we were left with the unusual challenge of coaxing down a transvestite who had climbed up the gantry crane – but stories like these tend to raise far too many concerns about health and safety to put in print. So I’ll save the stories for the pub later.
“Living and travelling the world with my partner of 18 years, (who I met in Liverpool whilst working on MEPAS II) finally marrying her in 2009 in Singapore, ranks up there with the biggest achievements of my life.
“Work wise, completing the tunnelling on Singapore’s Deep Sewer DTSS T-06 which involved 9.6km in extremely varied ground using an EPB was a challenge. Having been involved in DTL2 from concept design up to this point of preparing to start tunnelling feels like an achievement, however the most challenging part of the project is yet to come.”
Simon Hoblyn
