Put into operation in the year 1999, Bangkok’s mass rapid transit system is a heavily used public transport system continuously under expansion. The MRT System in Bangkok (Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line) is the first underground railway line in Thailand.
The second tunnelling boring machine (TBM) which will dig under the Chao Phraya river from Sanam Chai Station to Tha Phra Station has been assembled at the start shaft and started operation.
The Kawasaki tunnelling boring machine draws a long backup car behind with an extensible conveyor belt system to transport excavated soil.
The segments for the 6.3 m diameter tunnel are delivered by rail and installed by the segment erector within the TBM. The tunnelling boring machine will cut two tunnels of each 2.6 km.
