The excavation work for Mangshan Tunnel on the Jiaozuo-Pingdingshan High-Speed Railway, the world’s largest-diameter high-speed railway tunnel bored by an earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machine, has officially begun.
The project is undertaken by China Railway 11th Bureau Group Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited.
A view of the tunnel boring machine at the construction site. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The Jiaozuo-Pingdingshan High-Speed Railway is a crucial component of the Hohhot-Nanning High-Speed Railway, one of the eight north-south lines of China’s national high-speed railway network. It stretches 230 kilometers and has a designed speed of 350 km per hour.
The Mangshan Tunnel, located in Luoyang City, Henan Province, is a pivotal project of the entire railway. It has a total length of 6,340 meters, including a 4,970-meter shield tunneling section featuring a diameter of 14.57 meters.
A view of the tunnel boring machine at the construction site. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
To address the project’s construction challenges, the building team customized the “Jiaoping No.1” EPB shield machine. The equipment has an innovative combined cutter configuration integrating disc cutters, tooth knives and cutting knives. It is equipped with a digital twin model for the cutter head and cutters, enabling accurate prediction of cutter wear and tear during operation.
Two operators of the “Jiaoping No.1” EPB tunnel boring machine adjust the excavation parameters. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Upon completion, the Jiaozuo-Pingdingshan High-Speed Railway will connect four cities in Henan — Jiaozuo, Jiyuan, Luoyang and Pingdingshan. It will form a cross-shaped network with the Zhengzhou-Xi’an High-Speed Railway and fully integrate into Henan’s high-speed rail network. The new railway will inject strong impetus into the high-quality development and comprehensive rural revitalization in Central China.
Two operators of the “Jiaoping No.1” EPB tunnel boring machine adjust the excavation parameters. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Zuo Shihan)
