{"id":177322,"date":"2025-10-16T17:30:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T17:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/a-1500-ton-tunnel-boring-machine-is-on-its-way-to-madrid-to-excavate-the-new-line-11\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T17:30:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T17:30:12","slug":"a-1500-ton-tunnel-boring-machine-is-on-its-way-to-madrid-to-excavate-the-new-line-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/a-1500-ton-tunnel-boring-machine-is-on-its-way-to-madrid-to-excavate-the-new-line-11\/","title":{"rendered":"A 1,500-ton tunnel boring machine is on its way to Madrid to excavate the new Line 11."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

“Notify when you leave and when you arrive”<\/p>\n

Mayrit has already completed the first step. The second will occur in approximately a month when all the pieces are on Spanish soil. Mayrit is not just the youngest son of a family; it has many \u00a0fathers and mothers\u00a0\u2014a multitude of contributors behind the development of a \u00a01,500-ton tunnel boring machine\u00a0.<\/p>\n

This tunnel boring machine is set to \u00a0transform\u00a0 Line 11 of the Madrid Metro. Until now, the line has been excavated through traditional methods, but the introduction of this \u00a0gigantic\u00a0 machine will greatly enhance its future potential.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What’s Coming Next<\/h2>\n

The project aims to connect \u00a0Cuatro Vientos\u00a0, located in the southwest region of the capital, with \u00a0Valdebebas\u00a0 in the northeast. Line 11 aspires to be one of Madrid’s star connections, creating a diagonal path across the city. The goal is to evolve the current seven stations into one of Madrid’s major transport corridors.<\/p>\n

With the arrival of Mayrit, a significant leap in progress is anticipated. This extraordinary tunnel boring machine is not only massive, weighing \u00a01,500 tons\u00a0 and extending \u00a098 meters\u00a0 in length, but it is also expected to advance approximately \u00a015 meters each day\u00a0. This is crucial for a line that will feature stations \u00a033 meters below ground\u00a0.<\/p>\n

My colleague, Javier M\u00e1rquez, noted a few months ago that the transfer of this machine is a meticulous task. Assembled by \u00a0Herrenknecht AG\u00a0, a renowned German company, the machine consists of countless pieces, screws, and components. Once assembled, it is disassembled into parts to facilitate its journey to Spain\u2014a complex process that’s neither quick nor easy.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Recently, it was confirmed that the robust tunnel boring machine has commenced its journey to Spain. The pieces are being transported both over land and via sea. A major shipment will arrive in \u00a0Santander\u00a0 by boat, with plans for ground transport to the capital. Additionally, another set of parts will arrive at the \u00a0port of Valencia\u00a0, having originated from \u00a0Venice\u00a0.<\/p>\n

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Map of the new Line 11<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Upon arrival, the parts will be transported to \u00a0Carabanchel\u00a0, where the machine will begin drilling at a rate of \u00a0500 meters per month\u00a0. This drilling will connect to \u00a0Conde de Casal\u00a0, about six kilometers from the starting point. Notably, this section is deemed one of the \u00a0most complex\u00a0 to execute. Currently, the connection between \u00a0Parque de Comillas\u00a0, which will also have a new station, and \u00a0Plaza El\u00edptica\u00a0 is being performed manually.<\/p>\n

The intricacies involved in transporting and assembling the machine are significant, which means drilling is not expected to commence until \u00a0March 2026\u00a0. This timeline reflects the extensive planning and execution required for such an ambitious project.<\/p>\n

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\n \"The\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The working system is intricate; the tunnel boring machine’s tasks go beyond merely excavating. While making progress underground, an auger transports the excavated material through a conveyor belt. Depending on conditions, this material can be washed if it encounters mud and may require additional \u00a0support\u00a0 through injections of \u00a0bentonite\u00a0, water, or foam. Simultaneously, sensors monitor the pressure experienced, ensuring optimal \u00a0work efficiency\u00a0.<\/p>\n

If everything follows the outlined schedule, the final piece from Mayrit should arrive by \u00a0December\u00a0, but operations to begin drilling aren\u2019t anticipated until \u00a0March 2026\u00a0. For the time being, traditional methods like shoveling and using pneumatic hammers will continue.<\/p>\n

Overall, the enhancement of Line 11 represents a \u00a0significant investment\u00a0 in Madrid’s transport infrastructure. With the arrival of the Mayrit machine, the city is bracing for a transformative leap, reinvigorating its public transport system and accommodating the \u00a0growing demands\u00a0 of its citizens.<\/p>\n


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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Notify when you leave and when you arrive” Mayrit has already completed the first step. The second will occur in approximately a month when all the pieces are on Spanish soil. Mayrit is not just the youngest son of a family; it has many \u00a0fathers and mothers\u00a0\u2014a multitude of contributors behind the development of a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":177323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[43736,7476,43737,592,6653,7494,1072],"class_list":["post-177322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-1500ton","tag-boring","tag-excavate","tag-line","tag-machine","tag-madrid","tag-tunnel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177322"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177322\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/177323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}