Part of Betuwe line (see nl/11). Tubecon consortium will start construction in April, 2000 using Herrenknecht 10 m-diameter EPB for 2 x 4 km bores in clays and peaty layers. Overall length of tunnel 8 km to include 2 km-long cut-and-cover sections at each end. Slightly heavier segments than elsewhere on Betuwe line, but 8.65 m inside diameter similar to Botlek to accommodate stacked container traffic. Visit www.herrenknecht.com February 2000.  Herrenknecht advises that its 9.785 m-diameter Mixshield S-150 will be equipped with the revolutionary sonic software probing (SSP) system, a seismic forecasting process that uses sensors installed to the cutting wheel to emit soundwaves into the strata ahead of the machine and receive the reflected signals. The sensors are countersunk into the steel of the spokes and are designed to withstand pressures of up to 6 bar. The data is processed onboard by three high-performance PCs which reproduce a 3-D screen image of the ground up to 40 m ahead. The TBM is being assembled at the launch shaft and boring is scheduled to start in May, 2000. The reception shaft at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht is still under construction. Contact through www.herrenknecht.com March 2000.