The machine is scheduled to begin tunnelling in spring 2027, driving from the Retkinia area towards the K6 receiving shaft near the Łódź House of Culture in the city centre.
Assembly of the TBM shield is also under way. Individual shield sections weigh between 50t and 65t and incorporate the hydraulic thrust cylinders that will propel the machine forward during excavation.
The TBM will construct the main 4.6km section of the new high-speed rail tunnel beneath central Łódź, connecting the Retkinia area in the west with Łódź Fabryczna station.
Construction of the K7 launch shaft and associated TBM assembly facilities has been progressing ahead of the start of excavation next year.
The tunnel forms part of Poland’s developing high-speed rail network under the Port Polska programme and will provide a new underground rail connection through Łódź for services using the planned high-speed network.
