- China's largest-diameter shield tunneling machine finished its crossing beneath the Yangtze River on July 30, making way for high-speed rail tracks.
- The project set a new global record for the longest single-heading underwater drive, and achieved the world's first underground docking of a large horizontal shield and vertical shaft.
- The breakthrough will allow a high-speed train to run beneath the Yangtze River at a full speed of 350 km per hour without slowing down for the first time, marking a landmark progress in China's river-crossing railway tunneling technology.
- The full completion of the entire tunnel is scheduled by the end of 2026.
- With a total length of 14.25 kilometers, the tunnel connecting Shanghai's Chongming District and Taicang City in neighboring Jiangsu Province is built according to the highest construction standards among China's high-speed rail river-crossing projects.
- Li Bin, chief engineer of the tunnel project with China Railway Tunnel Group Co., Ltd., noted that the 148-meter-long shield machine weighs around 4,000 tonnes and features a 15.4-meter ultra-large cutter head.
- The unmanned tunneling gear achieved a single continuous underwater drive of 11.325 kilometers under the Yangtze, setting a new domestic record for 15-meter-level shield tunneling.
- Once put into operation, the project will end the island district of Chongming's lack of high-speed rail access, and cut travel time from Chongming via Taicang to Shanghai's Baoshan Railway Station to just 17 minutes.
China's largest-diameter shield tunneling machine has achieved a significant milestone by boring through the Yangtze River, completing a 14.25-kilometer tunnel that will facilitate high-speed rail travel at 350 km/h without the need to slow down. This groundbreaking project, completed on July 30, sets a new global record for the longest single-heading underwater drive and represents a major advancement in tunneling technology.1
The tunnel connects Shanghai's Chongming District to Taicang City in Jiangsu Province, aiming to enhance the integrated transport network in the Yangtze River Delta. Once operational, it will drastically reduce travel time from Chongming to Shanghai's Baoshan Railway Station to just 17 minutes, addressing the island district's previous lack of high-speed rail access.8
Li Bin, chief engineer of the project, highlighted the impressive specifications of the tunneling machine, which weighs around 4,000 tonnes and features a 15.4-meter ultra-large cutter head, making it the largest of its kind for high-speed railway construction. The unmanned tunneling gear also set a domestic record with a continuous underwater drive of 11.325 kilometers.67
The full completion of the tunnel is expected by the end of 2026, marking a significant step forward in China's infrastructure capabilities and regional connectivity.
“The tunnel, measuring 14.25 kilometers, will connect Chongming District and Taicang City, significantly enhancing regional transport connectivity. Once operational, it will reduce travel time to Shanghai's Baoshan Railway Station to just 17 minutes, addressing the island district's lack of high-speed rail access.”
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