A record excavation rate of 40.5m in just 20 hours has been claimed by the MaTrans JV tunnelling team (pictured) whilst working on the Steg section of the Lötschberg high speed rail twin tunnels in Switzerland. The JV, lead by Swiss contractor Marti AG, managed the impressive rates using a 9.4m diameter Herrenknecht Gripper TBM through extremely hard rock consisting of biotite gneiss with a UCS of between 160 and 280MPa. The achievement brings the unusual reward of an entire Ox barbecued at the Swiss jobsite by Herrenknecht AG Director, Martin Herrenknecht who had taken up the JV’s bet that they could perform such targets. The JV is using two Herrenknechts and has completed 5.8km on this drive of the 17km Steg section.
