Massive tunnel-boring machine arrives in Łódź to build Polands longest rail tunnel

The final component of a massive tunnel-boring machine arrived in Łódź on Sunday, completing a complex logistics operation that began at Herrenknecht’s factory in Schwanau, Germany. The central cutting shield, measuring 8.4 meters in diameter and weighing 145 tons, was transported by sea to Szczecin before traveling overland, with the convoy departing the Wulkan shipyard on Thursday and reaching the construction site in the early morning hours .
Specialists from PORR will take delivery of the component this weekend and begin assembling the full TBM, a third-generation machine described by PORR SA President Piotr Kledzik as one of the most advanced in the world. Once assembly and technical tests are complete, the machine will be positioned in the launch chamber at Retkinia, with tunneling for Poland’s longest tunnel—part of the high-speed rail line under Łódź—set to begin in spring 2027 .
The oversized load required separate transport for the cutting shield and main drive, with nighttime movement to minimize disruption. Port Polska stated the TBM’s use will limit surface impact in the city while ensuring precision in the tunnel’s construction .
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