Eastship Facilitates Key Transports for Landmark Tunnel Project
2nd August 2023
Eastship are pleased to announce their involvement in the modernisation of the railway between Sighișoara and Brașov in Romania; an upgrade which will cover an extensive 128 kilometre stretch.
The project includes:
- Rehabilitation of 3 stations, namely Racoș, Mateiaș, and Ormeniș
- Construction of 2 overpasses
- Development of 7 bridges
- Installation of ten culverts, facilitating water drainage and maintaining the integrity of the railway infrastructure
- Erection of three viaducts, offering elevated passages for trains, spanning challenging terrain and promoting a more seamless journey
At the core of this ambitious endeavour, though, are the construction of two tunnels measuring five and seven kilometres respectively.
To accomplish this feat, state-of-the-art Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), affectionately called "cârtițele" or moles, have been deployed.
These colossal machines are capable of advancing 15 meters per day, and will operate twenty-four hours a day, six days a week. This allows for a projection that the seven kilometre tunnel will be completed in 18-19 weeks, and the five kilometre tunnel in 14-15 weeks.
As a logistics partner for this project, Eastship played a pivotal role in transporting the massive machines to their designated locations. Despite the challenges posed by navigating winding mountain roads, the experienced Eastship team handled the transport - with some parts exceeding 5.5 meters in width - for over 500 kilometres.
"Once completed, the upgraded railway section between Sighișoara and Brașov will facilitate train speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, reducing travel time between the two tourist cities significantly. Presently, trains navigate this stretch at a modest pace of 40 kilometres per hour."
