Lovat TBM Breaks Through in Turin'Madama Cristina', a Lovat EPB shield TBM, broke through on 9th December, 2003 completing 2.6 km of tunnel as part of lot 4 of metro line 1 in Turin. Excavation began on 19th February, 2003 from Principi d'Acaja station. Breakthroughs followed at Bernini (27th May), Racconigi (8th July), Rivoli (6th August), Monte Grappa (17th October) and the final station in Pozzo Strada (9th December). The machine dug the 7.77 m-diameter tunnel at a average daily progress of 14 m, with peaks of 18 m. Visit www.lovat.com. To view a video of the breakthrough, visit www.metrotorino.it'Valentina', the second Lovat TBM ordered for lot 3, started its job from Fermi station and reached Massaua on 9th November. Read E-News Weekly 49/2003. Breakthrough into Pozzo Strada station and junction with lot 4 is expected in end January, 2004. Click it/26.The project is divided in seven separate contracts. The first five are for basic civil works, a sixth lot is for civil, mechanical and electrical finishings and a final contract is for installation and initial operation of the VAL system. The three TBMs were assigned to excavate the tunnels in lots 3, 4 and 5. Contract 4 was undertaken by a joint venture between Grandi Lavori Fincosit and Seli for owner Gruppo Trasporti Torinesi (GTT), the municipal transport agency. Design and construction management was assigned to Geodata (Italy) in JV with Systra of France.Turin's first metro line will connect Collegno, on the city's western outskirts, to the Porta Nuova railway station in the city centre. The 9.6 km-long line runs entirely underground and completely automatic driverless VAL system. The line includes 9 km of tunnels, 8 km of which driven by three TBMs 12 m below ground level and one kilometre using traditional or cut-and-cover techniques. The 15 stations are excavated between diaphragm walls to a depth of about 20 m. There are also 15 ventilation and emergency access shafts, a rolling stock depot and control centre and other secondary structures and building protection measures. 02/04.