Client, Union Railways (North) has invited 12 contracting JV’s (see box) to tender for five contracts on the UK’s Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Section 2. The combined value of the contracts is worth a total $960m and will be seen as a positive sign of project realisation by the beleaguered UK civil engineering fraternity.
The contracts include 20km of tunnels under London and forms a major part of the CTRL, a high speed rail line that will eventually link the Channel Tunnel in Kent with St Pancras Station in London.
Preliminary designs envisage the mobilisation of up to 10 TBMs working concurrently to complete the 20km length of 7.1-7.2m i.d single-track configuration twin tunnels. Eight TBMs could be in operation for the construction of the London tunnel split into contracts 220, 240 and 250.
The 17.5km long tunnel is separated by the Stratford Box (contract 230), an International station. Contract 320 is for construction of the 2.5km long single-track twin bore, Thames Tunnel, planned to be built by a single slurry TBM.
The contracts, following evaluation of the submitted tenders, are scheduled for award in early 2001. Work will begin on site in mid 2001 following a six month pre-construction period with actual tunnelling slated for an October 2002 start. Tunnel driving and lining is scheduled for completion in 2004.
Related Files
Tunnel Rail Link
Invites to tender
