World’s largest integrated baggage system is underway

A key piece in completing the world's largest integrated baggage system is underway, with the start of boring on a 1.8km-long tunnel underneath Heathrow Airport's airfield. The new £260 million tunnel will provide a vital link between all of the airport’s terminals, enabling Heathrow to handle 110 million bags annually by 2012. 
A £3.3m tunnel boring machine (TBM) is undertaking this challenging excavation which will carefully take place in close proximity to existing tunnels including rail links and fuel lines. The tunnel will connect Terminals 3 and 5, eventually linking into the existing baggage tunnel network at a building to be constructed airside.  
An expert team is using state-of-the-art laser alignment technology to ensure the TBM remains precisely on course, while extensive monitoring is undertaken to ensure that there is no impact on other tunnels or the airfield. The TBM is boring at a rate of 15 metres a day, creating a 5.6 metre-wide tunnel which is being fitted with 1,800 sections of prefabricated concrete panels. Over the course of five months 148,000 tonnes of earth will excavated.   
Dr. Chris Millard, BAA's Baggage and Flight Connections Project Director said: This is a highly complex and challenging tunnelling operation that requires absolute precision.   
The TBM recently bored within metres of the LU Piccadilly Line. Careful planning and real-time monitoring of the rail track was undertaken throughout, however ground movement was negligible and the Piccadilly Line service was not affected. I am delighted with the team's progress as well as their outstanding commitment to safety. 
This tunnel is at the heart of BAA's £900m baggage improvement plans, work is already underway to replace Terminal 3's baggage system and refurbish the systems in Terminal 1 and 4 with the latest technology. A new system will also be installed at Terminal 5C set to open in 2011.  
Bags will eventually be transported using an automated system made up of carts that will travel on rails at speeds of up to 800 metres a minute.  
The TBM was named Beatrice by the team in a traditional ceremony thought to secure good luck, success and protection for those working on a project.  
BAA is investing £4bn across Heathrow over the next five years in order to transform the airport for its passengers and airline customers. Heathrow's facilities will be completely redesigned, rebuilt and refurbished, with Terminals 1 and 2 replaced by a new, world-class facility: Terminal 2A.

Source: Transportweekly