In July TBM Sarah was launched from its shaft at Aubervilliers for its journey towards the Saint-Denis Pleyel station. It will arrive at the Finot site at Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine and then it will drive the 2.6km tunnel that will be used by both lines 16 and  17.

In early 2021 TBM Sarah will cross the Paris Nord above ground train tracks, located between the Pleyel district in Saint-Denis and the Landy district near the RER D Stade de France - Saint-Denis station. This is the largest in Europe and the third in the world after Tokyo and Chicago. The above ground area is 280 m wide with 42 tracks - 11 of which are for passenger  trains and will have over 1000 trains passing through it daily. The SNCF, and all the teams of the Societe du Grand Paris are preparing to ensure that the passage of the TBM occurs safely, while  ensuring the flow of trains on the surface: the TBM will dig 25 m underground at a low speed, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to cause less disturbance on the surface.

Since the end of July the TBM Steffie-Orbival, has been in the process of being assembled ready to be re-used for Line 17 and once ready it will be launched from the Flandres shaft at Bonneuil-en-France.

In July TBM Ellen broke through in what will be the future Fort-d'Issy-Vanves-Clamart station part of the Grand Paris Express’s Line 15. The TBM will have driven 4 km in 1.5years, click here to view the video.

For further information please click here and fr/127 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Go to https://www.societedugrandparis.fr. 36/20.