Qatar sets world record for most tunnel boring machines operating at once

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By   dohanews.co 

Doha now holds the Guinness World Record for operating the highest number of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in a single city at one time, Qatar Rail has announced.

Avi Viljoen/Flickr Doha Metro Green Line
Avi Viljoen/Flickr
Doha Metro Green Line

The country is currently running all 21 of its massive TBMs, which have been steadily digging underground to make way for the upcoming Doha Metro.

The achievement, which officials say has been officially recognized by Guinness, was announced earlier this week at the Qatar Transport Forum.

The latest record follows past recognitions for the longest SUV convoy, largest flag and the largest football, among dozens of others.

Doha Metro progress

Qatar Rail said this week that contractors have now completed some 50 percent of the 113km of tunneling required for the first phase of the metro, which is expected to passenger traffic in 2019.

That works out to roughly 56.5km, which is up from the 18.6km that had been tunneled less than five months ago. More info