Cross River Rail forges ahead with twin tunnel drills unveiled

“The first TBM [tunnel boring machine] has been assembled and is going through its final checks this week, and the same process will be completed with the second machine next month,” Mr Bailey said.

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“Crews remain on track to launch the TBMs from the Woolloongabba station site early next year.

“The TBMs will tunnel under the Brisbane River to Albert Street station in mid-2021, before continuing on to the new Roma Street station and emerging at the project’s northern portal at Normanby.

“Brisbane’s got tough rock, it’s hard rock, so they will be working hard. These tunnel boring machines are bigger than the machines used on the Sydney Metro project.

“At the same time as they’re making their way through hard rock, the TBMs will…