MRT drive in Taiwan receives first EPBM 06 May 2021

Terratec 6.24m EPBM to start on Taiwan MRT

Sandy gravel, sandstone and mudstone at pressures of up to 2.5 bar expected

Work is about to start on the Taoyuan Mass Rail Transit Green Line in Taiwan to connect six existing lines and create an interconnected circular network to provide a faster, more convenient travel service in the city and complement urban redevelopment. The first TBM for the project, a 6.24m diameter EPBM, has been delivered by Terratec in partnership with JIMT to BES-Daiho-Okumura JV to start the work for the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taoyuan.

The versatile EPBM has a robust spoke type with outer ring cutterheads designed to work effectively in the expected geology which includes sandy gravel, sandstone and mudstone at pressures of up to 2.5 bar. It is designed to smoothly discharge large boulders smoothly through the ribbon-type screw conveyor. As it progresses the TBM will install 1.2m wide rings of reinforced concrete lining consisting of five segments plus a key. Muck cars will haul the muck from behind the TBM to the surface for disposal.

The EPBM was manufactured at the Terratec factory in Guangzhou, China with key components from Japan. The Terratec factory complies with requirements of the Japan Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy that calls for use of Japanese technologies and equipment on projects carried out in Japan when possible. The quality and performance of the machine were considered under evaluation to be equal to that of machines made by Japanese contractor Daiho Corporation.

Taoyuan MRT Green Line is one of six lines that make up the Taoyuan Metro and has 21 stations, 10 underground, and a total length of 27.8km. This contract, GC02, includes four underground stations with two drives of 5.4km. The initial drive of about 80m will be from Mayuan Station to Da’nan Station. The MRT Green Line is expected to complete in 2025.

Taoyuan city will be better connected with the new MRT system

The City Government plans to connect the Taoyuan Airport Line, the MRT Green Line, the Green Line to Zhongli, the MRT Brown Line, the Sanying Extension Line to extend the Bade section, and the underground Taoyuan Railway.

Terratec has been a member of JIMT Group since 2018. JIMT is a combination of three Japanese companies. IHI Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and JFE Engineering Corp merging their TBM divisions, combining technology and experience. Between them, they have delivered more than 4,000 TBMs of every type and size for projects worldwide since 1939, the largest up to 16m diameter.