Tunnelling Ends on Chamartin-Nuevos Ministerios Tunnel in MadridThe Ministry of public works completed on 7th December, 2005 tunnelling of the Chamartin-Nuevos Ministerios tunnel on the new suburban rail service between Atocha and Chamartin stations in Madrid.A Herrenknecht TBM, which commenced its job in Chamartin in June, progressed and broke through the last metres of tunnel into a shaft located in Raimundo Fernandez Villaverde street. The 2.5 km tunnel has been lined with prefabricated reinforced concrete segments. Tunnelling took place further to extensive ground investigation and while monitoring the neighbouring buildings, to adopt all the safety measures that proved technically possible.This section forms part of the new rail link for suburban trains between Atocha and Chamartin, 7.5 km long with three intermediate stations (Sol, Alonso Martinez and Nuevos Ministerios). Once completed, journey times will be drastically reduced. The thousands of commuters who travel every day on Lines C-3 (Aranjuez) and C-4 (Parla), en route to the city centre of Madrid and Paseo de la Castellana, will no longer shift trains in Atocha, thus sparing up to 30 minutes on return trips. Lines C-1 and C-2 will still use the existing tunnel. Connecting options between suburban trains and the metro will be made easier with connections available with eight metro lines and better access to central Madrid.Tunnelling of the EUR96 million 4.5 km Atocha-Nuevos Ministerios tunnel ended on 27th July, 2005. Click here and here. The new tunnel has 17 vent shafts and 13 emergency exits. The tunnel's inner diameter is 8.43 m. It will be equipped with a double power line with rigid catenaries, permanent and emergency lighting, fire detection cables, ventilation and mobile phone reception. The total planned investment for the complete Atocha-Chamartin railway connection amounts to EUR280 million, whereof EUR79.7 million for Nuevos Ministerios station and the Chamartin-Nuevos Ministerios infrastructure and track. Click es/68. Visit www.rafcercamadrid.com and www.herrenknecht.com 52/05-01/06.