Bids called for Oslo-Ski TBM drives in Norway
26 May 2014
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk
- Six prequalified groups from across the world are invited to prepare proposals to compete for the TBM contract for the Oslo-Ski Follo Line railway project in Norway. Bids for the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) turnkey-type contract are invited by the Norwegian National Rail Administration and are to be returned by the 20 October 2014 deadline.
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Fig 1. Four TBMs and a precast segmental lining are specified
- The six prequalified joint venture groups are:
- Acciona Infraestructuras/Ghella (Spain – Italy)
- Gülermark/Samsung/Pizzarotti (Turkey – Korea – Italy)
- Implenia Norge/Hochtief Solution/Dragodos (Norway – Germany – Spain)
- NCC Construction/Vinci/Wayss & Freytag (Norway – France – Germany)
- OHL/SK Engineering and Construction (Spain – Korea)
- Skanska Norge/Strabag (Norway – Austria)
- The TBM contract is the first of four EPC contracts to be let to complete the Follo Line project and is based on using four TBMs of about 10m in diameter to excavate the 20km long section of a minimum 9.1m i.d. twin tube railway tunnelling as the majority part of the project. TBM excavation and a precast segmental lining though out is specified by the client for the tunnels that will be excavated using two TBMs in each direction for drives of about 10km long each from the specified central access adit (Fig 1).
- In their bids, each TBM contract prequalifier is required to provide a thorough description of how the group intends to organize and execute the work during all phases of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. This includes detailed information about the locations for carrying out and completing the main engineering and procurement activities.
- Award and signing of the contract is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015.
- Also confirmed are the six groups invited to bid for the EPC drill+blast contract, which comprises about 2.8km of drill+blast excavation through the Ekeberg Hill on the outskirts of Oslo. The groups are:
- JV Implenia Norge/Hochtief Solution and Dragados (Norway – Germany – Spain)
- JV Skanska Norge and Strabag (Norway – Austria)
- JV Salini/Impregilo and CSC Impresa Costruzioni (Italy – Italy – Switzerland)
- AF gruppen Norge (Norway)
- Obrascon Huarte Lain (Spain)
- Società italiana per condotte d’acqua (Italy)
- Also announced are the short lists of prequalifiers to be invited to bid for the last two of the four EPC contracts that cover the approach and station works in Oslo and Ski.
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Complex work for Oslo Central Station
- For the Oslo Central Station contract, the groups to be invited to bid are:
- AF Gruppen Norge AS, Norway
- Salini Impregilo, Italy
- Skanska Norge AS and Ed. Züblin AG, Norway/Germany
- Società Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua S.p.A, Italy
- Veidekke Entreprenør AS, Norway
- Bilfinger Construction GmbH of Germany is also on the list of invited bidders for the contract but news recently that the company intends to withdraw from the civil tunnelling industry may impact on the intension to present a proposal.
- The contract includes the alignment of the new Follo Line and of the altered Østfold Line between Oslo Station and the Sydhavna harbor area, as well as the interface to the tunnel portal of the drill+blast work through the Ekebergåsen hill.
- Extensive excavation and foundation works will progress construction of a concrete tunnel of about 600m long to carry both lines beneath a medieval park which is a conservation area of great archaeological and historical significance. Work also includes extensive track laying and railway system installations.
- The following five companies are prequalified for the EPC Ski Station contract:
- AF Gruppen Norge AS, Norway
- Obrascón Huarte Lain, Spain
- Skanska Norge AS, Norway
- Società Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua S.p.A, Italy
- Veidekke Entreprenør AS, Norway
- The contract covers construction of six new tracks and three new central platforms at the station, a new underpass, and extensive civil works including excavations, cut and cover work, concrete structures, retaining walls, foundations, and sheet and bored piling.
- Invitations to tender for the Oslo Central Station EPC contract will be issued towards the end of June (2014) and for the end of August for the EPC Ski contract. Both contracts are scheduled to be signed in the Spring of 2015.
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TBMs will complete the majority of the 22km long line
- The new 22km long double track Follo Line project is currently Norway`s largest transport project. It forms the core of urban development to the south of Oslo and includes extensive redevelopment of Oslo Central Station. A total of about 64km of new railway tracks will be laid to increase rail capacity into the capital, support design train speeds of up to 250km/hr, and enable a 50% reduction in journey time between Oslo and the commuter town of Ski The TBM section of the project is the longest rail tunnel in Norway and in the Nordic countries to date.
- Work on design and planning of the project has been underway for some years with the decision to specify TBM excavation and the precast concrete segmental lining taken in November 2012. Important preparatory work for construction of the project started in 2013 with main construction phase scheduled to start in 2015. Services are projected to start on the completed rail line in 2021.
- Specification of TBMs for the majority excavation of the Follo Line railway tunnel is a significant return to Norway of TBM technology. Reintroduction of TBM excavation, after decades of no TBM activity in the country, started with selection in 2013 of a 7.23m diameter Robbins TBM for excavation of a 12km section of the headrace for the Røssåga hydro scheme in the far north of the country. TBM technology was also selected more recently for excavation of the 7.8km long Ulriken railway tunnel in the city of Bergen.
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Bilfinger to withdraw from civil tunnelling – TunnelTalk, June 2014
TBM excavation for critical Norway rail link – TunnelTalk, May 2014
Hydro brings TBMs back to Norway – TunnelTalk, September 2013
Prequalifiers confirmed for Oslo-Ski Follo Line – TunnelTalk, October 2013
TBMs will excavate the Oslo-Ski Follo Line – TunnelTalk, November 2012
Direct twin-tube route for Oslo-Ski railway – TunnelTalk, October 2010
Outreach for Norway's major rail tunnel project – TunnelTalk, March 2011
International bid for Norway rail project – TunnelTalk, December 2008
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