A groundbreaking visionary mission

Grand Paris Express

200 kilometers of track on four new, fully automated subway lines with 68 stations and seven technical centers – the Grand Paris Express is currently the largest infrastructure project in Europe. The metropolitan area of the French capital is getting an additional network of metro lines designed with sustainability in mind, whose main task is connecting the municipalities surrounding the city with each other more efficiently.

 

In favor of the general public and the environment

Approximately 2 million passengers per day are expected to use the four new lines 15, 16, 17 and 18 as well as the extensions of line 14 South. The project owner "Société du Grand Paris" also expects massive savings in CO2 emissions as well as a major impetus overall for the development of economic strength and the quality of life in the region with around 12 million inhabitants.

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90 per cent of the new lines being built will run underground. By September 2023 the companies contracted by Société du Grand Paris to carry out the construction have ordered 21 tunnelling machines from Herrenknecht. The 17 EPB Shields and four Multi-mode TBMs (Variable Density TBMs) with diameters between 7.7 meters and 9.8 meters designed specifically for the project are scheduled to bore a total of more than 100 kilometers of tunnel and line them with concrete segments.

Mechanized shaft sinking

Herrenknecht also supplied two Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine (VSM) to build four ventilation and rescue shafts for Line 15 South Lot T3C and four for the Line 17 Lot 1. Mechanized shaft sinking was given preference as the Herrenknecht VSM is superior here to conventional methods both in terms of space constraints as well as environmental requirements. The shafts with diameters between 8.1 and 11.9 meters are being sunk down to depths of up to 53 meters.

Full Range Tunnelling

Extensive deliveries by companies from the Herrenknecht Group contribute to efficient jobsite logistics and smooth tunnelling in Paris: Techni-Métal Sytèmes multi-service vehicles, H+E conveyor systems, VMT navigation and monitoring systems, Herrenknecht Formwork segment moulds, MSD launch and exit installations as well as tunnelling specialists from Global Tunnelling Experts.

Service in every project phase

All of the Group's service competencies are concentrated in a service hub specially set up by Herrenknecht in Emerainville colse to the French capital. Here, solutions are developed in cooperation with the project management in Schwanau and for all project phases to the challenges associated to the large number of tunnel drives in an inner-city environment.

Special Operation: Mega Move in Paris

 

Project managers and TBM operators, mechanics and technicians, fitters and welders as well as electricians and PLC specialists are providing manifold and competent support from Emerainville. Also, the provision of spear and wear parts for the jobsites is operated form here. Close to 1,400 m² of storage space are available to this end.

Additional information about Europe's largest infrastructure project: Société du Grand Paris

Project Highlights

  • Sustainable improvement of Paris‘ infrastructure
  • 17 EPB Shields and 4 Variable Density TBMs for more than 100 km of metro tunnel
  • Full Range Tunnelling with extensive delivery of equipment
  • Especially established service hub for direct support
Project data
Column 0 Column 1
Project Grand Paris Express
Client Société du Grand Paris
Contractor
BAM
Bessac
Bouygues Travaux Publics
Demathieu Bard
Eiffage GC
Ferrovial
Implenia
NGE / NGE GC
Pizzarotti
Razel-Bec
Soletanche Bachy France / Soletanche Bachy Tunnels
Spie Batignolles
Vinci Construction
Webuild
Geology Soft and heterogeneous ground:
Sand, marl, limestone, clay, chalk, alluvium, gravel, gipsum, debris
Tunnelling length
approx. 105,000m
Machine data
17 x EPB Shield:
Diameter: 7,725mm – 9,830mm
4 x Variable Density TBM:
Inner Diameter: 7,710mm – 9,830mm
2 x Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine (VSM):
Diameter: 8,100mm – 11,900mm

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Steffen Dubé President and General Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA Inc.
Gerhard Goisser Commercial Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA, Inc.

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Steffen Dubé President and General Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA Inc.
Gerhard Goisser Commercial Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA, Inc.