On June 13, the reporter learned that the first shield machine for the Chengdu–Deyang intercity (suburban) railway project (hereinafter referred to as the "Chengdu–Deyang Line") was successfully launched in the open-cut section between Deyang South Station and Sichuan Jianzhu Vocational College Station in the Deyang segment, one month ahead of the original schedule, pressing the "accelerator" for project construction.

The Chengdu–Deyang Line starts at Weijianian Station on Chengdu Metro Line 1 and ends at Deyang North Station in Deyang City. The line has 15 stations in total and a total length of about 70.87 km (about 30.62 km in the Chengdu segment and about 40.25 km in the Deyang segment); of this, the underground section (shield-driven section) is about 23.78 km long (about 12.18 km within Chengdu and about 11.60 km within Deyang), the elevated section is about 45.39 km long, and the subgrade and transition sections are about 1.70 km long; the designed maximum operating speed is 160 km/h. The line links multiple administrative areas of the two cities, including Jinniu District, Xindu District and Pengzhou City in Chengdu, and Guanghan City, Deyang Economic and Technological Development Zone and Jingyang District in Deyang.

The shield-driven section launched this time is more than 2,000 meters long and mainly passes through high-permeability water-rich sandy gravel and argillaceous sandstone composite strata, using two earth pressure balance shield machines for construction.

"The Deyang area features high water content and highly permeable strata. The foundation pits of the underground stations currently under construction are generally more than 20 meters deep, and deep foundation pit dewatering technology is a technical difficulty currently being overcome." According to Chen Gen, deputy project commander, the project team carried out targeted design of the shield machine's cutterhead and cutters so that it can better adapt to Deyang's water-rich sandy gravel strata.

It is understood that the shield machine launched this time uses an intelligent network monitoring system throughout the tunneling process. Managers can remotely grasp key information such as tunneling progress and tunneling angle in detail through control programs or a mobile phone APP.

According to Liu Jianhong, deputy general manager of Chengdu–Deyang Rail Company, there are currently 21 construction sites under construction along the entire Chengdu–Deyang Line, mainly carrying out retaining structure, earthwork excavation and main structure construction for stations, bridges and depots; the bridges crossing the Yazi River and Shiting River, which involve flood-season construction safety, have completed construction of the main pier bodies in water, and foundation pile construction for the in-water piers of the bridge crossing the Qingbaijiang River is nearing completion. Construction work along the entire line is proceeding at full speed.

The Chengdu–Deyang Line is an important project in the "two rings and three rays" backbone commuting network for the integrated development of Chengdu, Deyang, Meishan and Ziyang. It is an important hub belt supporting the integrated development of Chengdu and Deyang and an important measure for promoting the construction of the Chengdu–Chongqing economic circle.