Tunnel vision

The huge machine is assembled for testing

AN Oldham engineering firm has built a huge machine to widen a Greater Manchester railway tunnel as part of a £1billion regional investment programme.

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) has designed and made the machine, to widen the 270-metre Farnworth Tunnel near Bolton as part of the electrification of regional train services.

The work is part of Network Rail’s Northern Hub programme to boost infrastructure, stations, journey times and capacity.

The Derker Street business is the only firm in the UK which designs and manufactures such specialist tunnelling machines. The machines can dig, drill and slice at the front, remove spoil with a rear conveyor and line the new tunnel with reinforced concrete.

Farnworth Tunnel is one of the UK’s widest railway tunnelling projects. Currently trains use two narrow tunnels, but after the project’s completion they will share a single, nine metre wide tunnel.

Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) managing director Geoff Clarke said: “Once everything has been assembled, we will test the machine and then disassemble it for delivery on wagons.

“The whole process lasts about two weeks. The sections have to be delivered to Bolton in sequence on 10 abnormal load wagons. They will then be assembled on-site at Bolton.

“Everyone gets a buzz to work on an exciting project like this.”

Tunnelling is due to start late this month until October.

The company has worked on projects all over the world, including providing back-up equipment for London’s massive Crossrail project.

Closer to home, the business supplied machines for shaft work during the comstruction of Metrolink