The performance of the two NFM TBMs being used to excavate the Shiraz metro in Iran (T&TI July, p8) continues to improve. T&TI was told TBM 1 has been averaging in excess of 300m per month since it has resumed driving following its breakthrough to station N°2, pictured above.

It left the station in the summer and over 1000m have been bored since. Breakthrough to station N°4 will be after 1350m of boring (station N°3 will finally be built later). TBM 2 left the station two weeks ago.