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Munich S-Bahn tunnel boring machine named “Donna Maria”
The 178‑metre, 700‑tonne tunnel boring machine intended for the second Munich S‑Bahn main line has been officially christened “Donna Maria”. The name won an online poll with roughly 59 % of the votes, beating the other finalists “Martha” and “Anna”. Over 1,000 name proposals were submitted, and “Donna Maria” was suggested independently four times.
“Donna” refers to the starting point at Donnersberger Bridge, while “Maria” denotes the planned Marienhof station. The machine is scheduled to start digging on 17 September, advancing about three kilometres from the bridge to the under‑construction Marienhof stop. Up to eight personnel may ride inside during operation. The excavated tunnel is an exploratory and rescue shaft, not the passenger‑service tunnel slated for the late 2030s.
The overall project will employ six tunnel boring machines. The first traffic tunnel is expected to begin advance in 2028, with the new machine’s work aimed at relieving the heavily used existing line that has been in service since 1972.
Entities
Deutsche Bahn · Donna Maria · Donnersberger Bridge · Marienhof station · Munich S‑Bahn
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The tunnel boring machine for Munich’s second S‑Bahn main line has been officially named “Donna Maria”. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] It will begin digging on 17 September, advancing about three kilometres from the Donnersberger Bridge to the Marienhof station. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Six tunnel boring machines will be used for the overall project, with the first traffic tunnel expected to start advance in 2028. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The name “Donna Maria” received about 59 % of the votes in an online poll, beating finalists “Martha” and “Anna”. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The tunnel being drilled is an exploratory and rescue shaft, not the passenger‑service tunnel planned for the late 2030s. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The machine is 178 metres long and weighs roughly 700 tonnes. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 1,000 name suggestions were submitted to the poll. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Up to eight people can be aboard the machine during its operation. www.nordbayern.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.onetz.de