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Channel Tunnel Rail Link Contract 220
The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is the high standard 109km railway extension which connects London with the Channel Tunnel (Euro Tunnel), which opened to traffic in 1994. Opening of this whole line will shorten the time required between London and Paris for the Eurostar express trains from the present 2 hours and 55 minutes to 2 hours and 15 minutes. As part of a JV with Cementation Skanska, Nishimatsu is constructing two 7.5km tunnels (one in each direction) (Contract 220) between Stratford and Gifford Street Portal, which is part of Section 2 of the CTRL, a 39km extension between Southfleet and St. Pancras. 2. Advanced Technology for Tunnel Boring The tunnels of Contract 220 pass through the built-up areas in the northeast part of London, and since most routes are located directly underneath existing National Railways, effective countermeasures against subsidence are needed. Moreover, sophisticated excavation technology is required due to high groundwater levels in the complex strata consisting of clay, sand, chalk layers and a mixed layer of all the above. Nishimatsu adopted an Earth Pressure Balanced type tunnel boring machine (named "Annie") with which Nishimatsu has successfully excavated many urban area tunnels around the world. Furthermore, Nishimatsu is making full use of the newest technologies, such as continuous mucking-out with a belt conveyer, resulting in simultaneous high-speed excavation of the two 7.5km, long-distance tunnels in about only 15 months. 3. International Joint Venture For this project Nishimatsu has formed a joint venture with Cementation Skanska, a subsidiary of Skanska AB (Sweden). Nishimatsu has formed many international joint ventures with many overseas companies up until now, resulting in the successful completion of many overseas projects. As well as the previous successful projects, Nishimatsu shares outstanding technology and excellent management resources with its partner in this project, and this big project is progressing favorably. 4. Record of Other Railway Tunnels Nishimatsu has constructed many railway tunnels around the world. A record of its overseas railway tunnels is as follows:
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