On March 13, 2024, the first slurry TBM with atmospheric pressure cutter head for export, developed by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group (CREG) under CRHIC, was successfully launched, marking that the first large-diameter shield tunnelling engineering for the Cross Island Line Phase I Project in Singapore has been officially commenced.

The Cross Island Line project is the longest underground MRT line under construction in Singapore. The CR105 project features a total tunnelling length of 3,157m, with the maximum gradient of 30‰ and the maximum burial depth of 60m. The project will cross marine clay layer, mixed granite layer and old alluvial sand layer, and also pass beneath key structures like Singapore Changi Airport.

To overcome the challenges posed by construction and to meet the customer’s demands, CREG’ design team has customized a 3,000-ton slurry TBM with an excavation diameter of 12.66 meters and a length of 150m. The machine adopted innovative technologies such as atmospheric pressure cutter head replacement system, ensuring efficient tunneling in complex strata and effectively managing project risks under intricate working conditions.