Underwater Railway Shield Tunnel with World's Largest Diameter Completed

The Shiziyang Tunnel of the Foshan-Dongguan intercity railway, the world's largest diameter underwater railroad shield tunnel, was completed on Dec 17.

Consisting of one two-lane tube, the new tunnel is 6,150 meters long with 4,900 meters of shield section. The designed speed of the 12-meter inner diameter tunnel is 200 km/h.

A major direct cross-river passage linking the two banks of the Pearl River, the new tunnel will play a significant role in shortening travel time in the Pearl River Delta metropolitan area to within one hour.

Its completion strongly supports the opening of the intercity railway's section from the Guangzhou South Railway Station to Wanghong station by the end of 2020.

The tunnel was designed and built by China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd. and  is the second to go through the Shiziyang waters at the mouth of the Pearl River.

The first such tunnel was a section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway.

A part of the east-to-west rail network in the Pearl River Delta, the Foshan-Dongguan intercity railway starts from the Guangzhou South Railway Station, passes Changlong, Panyu Avenue, Guanqiao and Lianhua stations and reaches Wanghong station in Dongguan.

Design sketch of the new Shiziyang Tunnel [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Zhang Tianyuan)