NEOM Saudi Arabia - "The LINE" Tunneling

Industry leader in tunneling

THE LINE rail project is part of the futuristic new city of NEOM in northern Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea - a $500 billion investment planned as a car-free city. One of the key components of THE LINE is 27 kilometers of tunnels, including two underground rail tunnels: a high-speed tunnel and a freight tunnel. The innovative nature of NEOM makes it a transformative development in urban planning and transportation infrastructure.

Project Overview

The construction of the LINE tunnel system required a sophisticated ventilation system to ensure safety and operational efficiency. The project is a collaboration between Spanish, Chinese and Saudi Arabian companies who have formed a joint venture (JV) for the construction of the 27 km tunnel. TLT-Turbo Sichuan was selected for this important project due to the company's extensive experience in ventilation solutions. With a proven track record in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, TLT-Turbo was well positioned to meet the unique requirements of the project.

Project Background 

The biggest challenge for the joint venture was to install a ventilation system that would extract fumes and dust within 30 minutes to dilute the concentrations so that work could resume immediately after each blast. The second challenge was the tight delivery schedule. TLT-Turbo Sichuan delivered the first batch - including fans with silencers, variable speed drives and air ducts - ready for shipment to the port of Shanghai within eight weeks. The customer's main objectives were to ensure safety and improve working conditions. TLT-Turbo was chosen for this reason, as the company already had good experience in the region and with applications in tunnels and subways.

The challenge  

The client needed to mobilize personnel and equipment for the NEOM project immediately after contract award to avoid delays or penalties. TLT-Turbo was awarded the contract because of its ability to meet these challenges and its reputation for commitment and reliability. The joint venture selected TLT-Turbo for its extensive technical expertise and global presence, which reinforced their confidence in TLT-Turbo's ability to deliver.

The Solution

TLT-Turbo rose to the challenge by leveraging its experience and conducting thorough research. The team, consisting of TLT-Turbo Sichuan and the regional sales organization, developed a solution that met the requirements of the project.

Implementation details:

• Schedule: The system was ready for shipment in eight weeks. The first batch was on site before the scheduled first blast.
• Selection of the most efficient solution with high efficiency fans to meet the demanding and harsh site conditions.
• Complete production and delivery schedule in line with construction schedule and tunnel progress.

Results and Conclusion 

TLT-Turbo's solution was an effective response to the customer's challenges and ensured timely delivery and installation. The immediate benefit was early delivery of the system, while the long-term benefit was a highly efficient and reliable ventilation system. The solution provided a rapid return on investment (ROI) and reduced construction costs, demonstrating TLT-Turbo's ability to deliver effective and efficient solutions.

This project demonstrated TLT-Turbo's flexibility in adapting to challenging requirements and its commitment to providing the best technical solutions. TLT-Turbo's involvement in the NEOM project demonstrates the company's ability to contribute to safer workplaces and provide highly efficient solutions that reduce energy consumption and costs. TLT-Turbo's involvement in iconic projects such as NEOM underlines TLT-Turbo's industry leadership and expertise in providing advanced ventilation solutions for major infrastructure projects.