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The extension of Montreal Metro’s Blue Line demonstrates how a medium-voltage switchgear system from Spain and a tunnel boring machine from Germany can become the backbone of a major infrastructure project in Canada. At the heart of the project is a tunnel boring machine (TBM) from Herrenknecht AG with a diameter of 9.7 metres and a length of 135 metres. Since May 2026, it has been advancing up to 15 metres per day through the underground of the French-Canadian metropolis. At the same time, it removes excavated material and installs concrete segments for the new 4.6-kilometre tunnel. To ensure that this mobile factory operates reliably, it requires a stable, safe and standards-compliant power supply. To support this, we supplied the medium-voltage technology in mid-2025.
As a long-standing partner of Herrenknecht, we supplied a cgmcosmos medium-voltage switchgear system for the project. Operating at a voltage level of 25 kV, it ensures the power supply of the tunnel boring machine. The switchgear was integrated by the customer into a specially developed enclosure designed to meet the stringent safety requirements of tunnel operations. It serves as the power intake switchgear for the TBM’s electrical supply.
In addition, we supplied a switching station that manages the electrical power distribution for both the construction site and the tunnel boring machine throughout the entire construction period, ensuring a reliable and secure power supply.
A particular challenge was compliance with North American standards. The switchgear had to meet both the requirements of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the specifications requested by the customer for this international project. We fulfilled these requirements and delivered a standards-compliant solution for operation in Canada.
Our German solutions team was involved from the very beginning, from technical consultancy and configuration of the switchgear manufactured at our production facility in Spain through to support during integration into the TBM at Herrenknecht’s headquarters in Schwanau, Germany. The final integration of the switchgear into the machine and the acceptance tests were carried out by Herrenknecht together with the end customer. We remained available throughout the process to provide support on specific technical questions.
A key characteristic of tunnel construction is that the tunnel length increases with every metre advanced. As the TBM progresses, additional supply stations must be installed to ensure the power supply over ever-increasing distances.
The Ormazabal switchgear installed in the rear section of the machine plays a crucial role in this process. It reliably supplies power to the TBM and protects the electrical components, even as operational loads increase.
“Thanks to our long-standing cooperation, we are very familiar with Herrenknecht’s technical interfaces and requirements,” explains Antonio Gonzalez Espinosa, Solutions Manager at Ormazabal Germany. “For the Montreal project, we adapted an existing configuration to meet the technical requirements for operation in Canada.”
He adds: “In previous projects, we actively supported the Modbus TCP communication of our protection and metering equipment. Today, Herrenknecht’s engineering department has developed such a deep understanding of our products that it can independently perform these tasks. This is an excellent example of the strong cooperation and continuous development within our teams.”
“Due to the long-standing collaboration, Ormazabal has an in-depth understanding of Herrenknecht’s requirements. The medium-voltage switchgear supplied is based on a proven standard configuration that had already been jointly developed and refined in previous projects. Both companies are familiar with each other’s processes, products and requirements, enabling demanding projects such as the Montreal Metro expansion to be implemented smoothly,” says Reinhold Mattes, Electrical Project Manager Traffic Tunnelling at Herrenknecht AG.
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