Despite a year of political upheaval in Egypt, on 10.01.2012 the 9.46 m-diameter NFM TBM on Line 3, Phase 2 of Cairo metro project broke through into Stadium station after a 1,579 m drive during which best production figures were 24 m/day and 109.5 m/week. Three days later, the 9.4 m-diameter Herrenknecht slurry TBM broke into Abbasia station to connect with Phase 1 after an 1,840 m drive with 30 m/day and 154.5 m/week top figures. Metro Phase 1 itself will be inaugurated this month, while prequalification of companies is underway for supervision and construction of Line 3, Phase 3 and of consultants for design of Line 4, Phase 1. More from Ashraf Abu-Krisha, e-mail ashamk66@hotmail.com and visit www.nfm-technologies.com. 03/12.