HS2 TBM Progress

[GRALISTAIR]

It's been a real pleasure getting updates and info straight from the cutting face! Thanks for keeping us all informed!

Seconded and best wishes the next project!

Thirded! Great to hear you have plenty of work btw.

 

[Snow1964]

New video released by HS2 following removal of fourth (of 4) TBMs from Northolt tunnel

Mentions work continues to complete the 34 cross passages and concrete base for track

 

[absolutelymilk]

Updated 26 August
Elizabeth 5,128m (+164m in 15 days), 472m to go

Updated 8 September
Elizabeth 5,298m (+170m in 13 days), 302m to go

 

[absolutelymilk]

Updated 23 September
Elizabeth 5,468m (+170m in 14 days), 132m to go

So in theory it should be finished in the first week of October!

 

[Snow1964]

Updated 23 September
Elizabeth 5,468m (+170m in 14 days), 132m to go

So in theory it should be finished in the first week of October!

Yes does appear to have been progressing at about 12-13m per day throughout September.

So probably just a few metres remaining, although they sometimes wait week or two until a publicity breakthrough event.

At the other (delta junction) end, have already built part of the cut and cover tunnel extension (although as this is partly open, and then one line passes through a long diveunder, it is not a true continuation of the tunnel).

 

[Mojo]

My Councillor has just posted the following message

Safety is our number one priority at Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS) and across HS2. I’m writing to let you know that last week a serious incident occurred at our site at Green Park Way in Ealing. As a result, works are being safely halted across the London tunnels section of the route, including sites in Hillingdon. While no workers were physically harmed, SCS is undertaking a comprehensive review of safety procedures and leadership on their sites before a safe restart can take place.

Works will be brought to a safe stop and will remain on hold until we and HS2 are satisfied that all appropriate measures are in place to protect the workforce. We anticipate the review may take a number of weeks depending on the area and the type of work involved.

We will continue to keep local communities and this group updated.

Unable to provide a link as it's on a private group.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I am not one of those that thinks Health and Safety has gone over The top. Human life is important. This sounds like a good decision to me.

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has issued a new video showing the Bromford tunnel TBM working ahead of its breakthrough in few days.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2025 ==

A drone video of Washwood Heath cutting (the concrete ramp to Bromford tunnel entrance) has been posted. Around the 3minute mark the reception chamber with TBM names on banners on the wall, and the large crane waiting nearby can be clearly seen. The concrete shell of the access staircase between the tracks is also visible.

I think those large rectangular openings are due to be covered over once TBM has been removed, there is clearly a ledge for an intermediate level to be added too, the tunnel entrance will be below where the horizontal concrete spacer beams commence.

 

[JamesT]

My Councillor has just posted the following message

Unable to provide a link as it's on a private group.

Presumably the referred to incident is this: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/la...lowing-crane-disassembly-incident-10-10-2025/

Work on the London tunnels section of High Speed 2 (HS2) has been paused after an incident during crane disassembly that HS2 Ltd described as "serious", though no workers were physically injured.

The incident occurred on Monday, 29 September at the Green Park Way ventilation shaft in west London while a gantry crane was being taken apart. A beam struck a crane basket containing two workers, in which both fortunately escaped with no physical injuries, but HS2 Ltd and contractor Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture (SCS JV) have described the event as posing a “serious risk” and opened a full investigation.

 

[chris2]

Local news reporting breakthrough on last TBM…

A major milestone for HS2 as its giant boring machine completes the final tunnel to Birmingham, marking the end of major excavation work on the 140-mile route.

https://www.birminghamworld.uk/trav...gham-tunnel-boring-machine-completion-5357123

 

[Snow1964]

Local news reporting breakthrough on last TBM…


https://www.birminghamworld.uk/trav...gham-tunnel-boring-machine-completion-5357123

The HS2 Media version of breakthrough at Bromford

An enormous machine being used to dig HS2’s Birmingham approach tunnels broke through today, marking the completion of major tunnel excavation between London’s Old Oak Common and the West Midlands.

The 125-metre-long tunnel boring machine - named Elizabeth after the 19th century philanthropist Elizabeth Cadbury - was launched near the Warwickshire village of Water Orton in March 2024. It arrived at Washwood Heath this morning.

Two identical machines were used to dig the 3.5-mile long Bromford tunnel that will carry high speed trains under the M6 and eastern outskirts of the city, with the first one – Mary Ann – breaking through earlier this year.

Together, Elizabeth and Mary Ann have excavated more than 1.8 million tonnes of material and installed 5,804 concrete ring segments for the twin, eastbound and westbound tunnels. The spoil – made up of various grades of Mercia Mudstone – is being used to landscape the railway on the approaches to the city.

Today’s milestone means that all the excavation is now complete for the 28 miles of deep bore tunnel between Old Oak Common in west London and the railway’s terminus at Birmingham Curzon Street. Construction teams are now mainly focused on internal walkways, ventilation shafts and cross passages.

HS2 celebrates final Birmingham tunnel breakthrough

View and embed a new video of the giant tunnelling machine digging the 3.5-mile-long Bromford tunnel breaking through this morning at Washwood Heath. The machine – named Elizabeth – was launched 19 months ago, near the Warwickshire village of Water Orton. Download the latest images. HS2’s...

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[erikvd28]

HS2 celebrates final Birmingham tunnel breakthrough​

Now it's waiting for the infamous Euston tunnels.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Great news! Does the pause on London tunnels work include the Euston tunnels or are those separate?

 

[hwl]

Great news! Does the pause on London tunnels work include the Euston tunnels or are those separate?

Should be starting next summer and running for ~18 months.

Some of the delayed start has been due to finding it useful to use the logistics tunnel for improving fitout efficiency of the station box (drive in / drive out rather than just crane in / crane out) and the want to get the below ground civils/structural type stuff in the box done before starting.

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video of HS2 Atlas Road logistics site. Large numbers of tunnel lining segments are clearly visible, and have now been stockpiled for the Euston TBMs

The ramp tunnel to the TBMs is also visible from segment holding area. Trains of open box wagons are also visible (not sure if these have brought segments in, or are ready to take muck away.

I think Euston TBMs are due to start digging properly (as opposed to slight forward movement during assembly and test digging) early 2026.

 

[stuving]

Trains of open box wagons are also visible (not sure if these have brought segments in, or are ready to take muck away.

They are for spoil. The segment stacks travel on special flats where they sit on racks like the ones in the storage area. These run into the one track under the blue gantries, at the left at the start of the video, and empty at the time.

 

[kevin_roche]

A new drone video of HS2 Atlas Road logistics site. Large numbers of tunnel lining segments are clearly visible, and have now been stockpiled for the Euston TBMs

Interesting to see the access tunnel. I heard that segments will be delivered using the tunnel and I have assumed spoil will be removed using the tunnel but does anyone if my assumption is correct.

It does not appear to be large enough for both, but I guess that's what happened when it was built.

 

[stuving]

Interesting to see the access tunnel. I heard that segments will be delivered using the tunnel and I have assumed spoil will be removed using the tunnel but does anyone if my assumption is correct.

It does not appear to be large enough for both, but I guess that's what happened when it was built.

Quotes from HS2 press release last year about the Euston tunnel(s):

The Atlas Road Logistics Tunnel, which will be used to deliver materials and remove spoil for the Euston Tunnel, has been completed.

A conveyor system will also run through the logistics tunnel, and will connect to an existing conveyor at Atlas Road, taking the London clay being excavated to construct the Euston Tunnel to HS2’s London Logistics Hub at Willesden Euro Terminal. From there, the spoil will be taken by train for re-use at sites in Kent, Cambridgeshire and Rugby.

The latest video shows the existing spoil conveyor running right past the access tunnel entrance, but no sign of any conveyor out of the tunnel and up onto the existing one.

 

[Snow1964]

A new HS2 video on Bromford tunnel intermediate shaft, ventilation and construction of headhouse

 

[Snow1964]

If anyone was wondering what finished tunnels look like (whilst awaiting track and cables, a good view of size of a single bore tunnel is in this view

HS2 has published a photo (11Dec) of HS2 hosting DfT permanent secretary in Chiltern tunnel

HS2 CEO Mark Wild and Chair Mike Brown host DfT Permanent Secretary at HS2's Chiltern tunnel

News and information from HS2 for the media

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[Snow1964]

For anyone who is interested in HS2 tunnel construction, there is a lecture 6pm 15th January, by The British Tunnelling society, which appears to also be online, and I think can be booked for free (booking details on link)

The four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the 13.5km long HS2 Northolt Tunnels beneath London completed their drives this year at the Greenpark Way Ventilation Shaft, constructing tunnels with internal diameters of 8.10m (Northolt Tunnels East) and 8.80m (Northolt Tunnels West).

In addition to 34 standard cross-passages between the Upline and Downline tunnels there are twelve adits connecting to the shafts, three of which are large diameter openings, one at Victoria Road Ancillary Shaft (VRAS) and two at the South Ruislip Ventilation Shaft (NSR) and the Mandeville Ventilation Shaft (NMA).

The VRAS connection, approximately 70 m², spanned across six tunnel rings. The NSR and NMA connections spanned across five tunnel rings. Their permanent ventilation openings, each with a minimum area of 27 m², required the removal of segments from three adjacent rings.

To minimise impact on tunnel logistics and reduce overall construction time and to improve safety, all tunnel connections were designed to be constructed without conventional temporary works such as propping, temporary steel framing, or installation of SGI rings around openings. Instead, specially developed opening sets using special concrete segment were employed, incorporating corrosion-protected cast-in steel components that ensure highly rigid and durable connections between ring joints. In accordance with the HS2 project requirements, those special segments underwent pre-installation testing under both fire and sustained loading conditions.

This presentation will discuss the design and construction process which involved significant collaboration between the SCS JV and HS2 teams to ensure a safe and compliant design, manufacturing and testing and successful installation of the special segments and openings formation.

https://www.ice.org.uk/events/upcoming-events/prop-less-tunnel-openings-design-for-hs2-bts-jan-2026

 

[absolutelymilk]

The Times and Guardian are reporting that the Chiltern tunnel is finally complete - main tunnelling finished in March 2024 but has taken nearly two years to do the rest. Hopefully the similar works for the other tunnels don't take as long given they're both shorter and also they're gained some experience from doing the Chiltern ones that might speed things up for the other ones.
HS2’s longest tunnel is finished. What will we get for our money?

Despite the uncertainty, building work on the project continues and this month Howard and his team announced the completion of the longest tunnel on the 140-mile route.

Out of sight: spectacular HS2 tunnels offer glimmer of hope for stalling project

Main tunnelling was completed last year, and with the final shafts the construction phase is now officially finished. Mark Clapp, HS2 Ltd’s head of civil engineering for the tunnel, says those who delivered a project of this scale and complexity on schedule should “feel certain that their hard work will stand the test of time”.

 

[Wyrleybart]

The Times and Guardian are reporting that the Chiltern tunnel is finally complete - main tunnelling finished in March 2024 but has taken nearly two years to do the rest. Hopefully the similar works for the other tunnels don't take as long given they're both shorter and also they're gained some experience from doing the Chiltern ones that might speed things up for the other ones.
HS2’s longest tunnel is finished. What will we get for our money?


Out of sight: spectacular HS2 tunnels offer glimmer of hope for stalling project

From what I understand HS2 is not stalling, and there are plans in place to operate the first phase pretty much as planned. They are boring the tunnels from OOC to Euston and there is infrastructure work taking place along the whole route between OOC and Curzon St and between Interchange / Delta Junction and Handsacre Jn. The issue is the project was never fully designed before the diggers moved in, and the incredible costs have meant Phase 2A and phase 2B being frozen.

Assuming Euston - Curzon St and Delta Jn - Handacre Jn is completed then the project will have delivered what it initially set out to do. It is sad though that at the present time HS2 trains might not run beyond Birmingham in my lifetime (64 this year) as I understand Handsacre will not be connected for four years after the main route is open which is another five years away at least.

However in politics things do change and maybe Delta junction - Crewe / Manchester might yet be back on !!

 

[Snow1964]

The HS2 press release on completion of Chiltern tunnel.

Construction works on HS2’s longest tunnel have been completed – marking an important civil engineering milestone for the new high-speed railway.

HS2 Ltd said that close of work at two of the line’s Chiltern tunnel vent shafts at Chesham Road and Little Missenden brings to an end a project that began almost five years ago.

Once fitted out with tracks and overhead electrical equipment as part of later phases of the project, the tunnel will carry trains travelling at 200mph, enabling them to traverse its 10 miles in just three minutes.

Main construction of the twin-bore tunnel – each to carry a single track for trains travelling north and south – began in May 2021 with the staggered launch of two 2,000-tonne tunnel boring machines (TBMs) from a site next to the M25 near Maple Cross in Hertfordshire.

Five deep ventilation and access shafts were sunk to depths of as much as 78 metres along its route and completed before the TBMs’ arrival. The understated design of each shaft’s headhouse, by Grimshaw architects, is intended to blend unobtrusively with the surrounding landscape of the Chiltern hills.

The machines progressed north at an average speed of 16 metres per day before breaking through near Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, in early 2024.

Since then, work has continued to build the porous extensions to its north and south portals, install its internal walkways and fit out 40 cross passages.

It is the second of HS2’s five twin-bore tunnels to be structurally complete after the same achievement was marked for the one-mile Long Itchington Wood tunnel in Warwickshire last year.

However, while clear progress is being made to construct the 140-mile line between London and Birmingham, there is still significant work to do. Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, is now leading a comprehensive reset of the project to ensure the remainder of the route is delivered as efficiently as possible and for the lowest reasonable cost.

The Chiltern tunnel’s construction was led by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor for this section of the line - Align JV, a joint venture between Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and Volker Fitzpatrick.

HS2 Ltd head of civil engineering for Chiltern tunnel, Mark Clapp said:
“Multi-facetted projects of the Chiltern tunnel’s scale and complexity don’t often come along; as a civil engineer, you’re lucky to be involved in anything like it. The team we assembled at HS2 Ltd, and with Align JV – our main civil works contractor - and all its subcontractors, to deliver this part of the new high-speed railway was exemplary.

“I pay tribute to everyone involved. They can all feel certain that their hard work will stand the test of time.”

Align JV project director, Adrien Baudard said:
“Being part of the successful delivery of the Chiltern tunnel has been a source of immense pride for everyone at Align and our partners across the supply chain. Their unwavering commitment, technical skill, and collaborative spirit have been truly impressive. Whether it was advancing safety standards, setting new TBM records, or helping to train future engineers, we’ve had the privilege of learning from and working with some of the top talent in our field.

“With the completion of the Chiltern tunnel’s civil works, the achievements of this integrated project team as well as the sustainable benefits such as carbon reduction and safety innovations will set a standard in tunnelling for generations to come.”

The project team organised a highly efficient and carefully sequenced operation to ensure the TBMs’ round-the-clock operation. Each one received a continuous supply of 56,000 eight-tonne tunnel lining segments from a purpose-built factory near the tunnel’s southern portal.

Named Florence and Cecilia after modern nursing’s founder, Florence Nightingale and astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who both had connections with the local area, the duo excavated three million tonnes of chalk during their 33-month journey.

Rather than being taken away on the public highway, the excavated material has been used on site to create more than 120 hectares chalk grasslands around the tunnel’s southern portal on the Herts/Bucks border – similar to the environment that existed there before it was farmed.

The initiative has expanded Hertfordshire’s remaining biologically diverse grassland habitat by nearly a fifth and recreated environment for flora and fauna to thrive.

Completion of civil engineering works will be followed by the installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment, with the design-phase already underway and enabling works beginning this year. Rail systems including track and overhead electrical equipment to power the new high-speed trains will follow once this work is completed.
Civil works continue elsewhere on HS2.

HS2 completes civil engineering works on longest tunnel project

Construction works on HS2’s longest tunnel have been completed – marking an important civil engineering milestone for the new high-speed railway.

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[PLY2AYS]

Phase 2A and phase 2B being frozen.

Have we had confirmation it’s only frozen and not written off completely?

 

[david_g]

The Times and Guardian are reporting that the Chiltern tunnel is finally complete - main tunnelling finished in March 2024 but has taken nearly two years to do the rest. Hopefully the similar works for the other tunnels don't take as long given they're both shorter and also they're gained some experience from doing the Chiltern ones that might speed things up for the other ones.
HS2’s longest tunnel is finished. What will we get for our money?


Out of sight: spectacular HS2 tunnels offer glimmer of hope for stalling project

I wouldn't bet on it. Can't remember when the second TBM broke through digging the second tunnel at Long Itchington, since then it has dug another one at Castle Bromwich (or is it two?). Work to complete the southern entrance to the tunnels at Long Itchington is still ongoing. One day we may get the A425 back where it's supposed to be.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Have we had confirmation it’s only frozen and not written off completely?

Rishi Sunak cancelled Phase 2a and 2b (other than the 10-mile tunnelled route into Manchester, which is retained for NPR).
The truncated Phase 2b Bill is still going through the parliamentary process, but it is stalled awaiting progress on the NPR route.
Land purchase for HS2 has ceased, but land previously bought (mainly for Phase 2a) will not be sold back, pending decisions on a new Handsacre-Manchester proposal.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Rishi Sunak cancelled Phase 2a and 2b (other than the 10-mile tunnelled route into Manchester, which is retained for NPR).
The truncated Phase 2b Bill is still going through the parliamentary process, but it is stalled awaiting progress on the NPR route.
Land purchase for HS2 has ceased, but land previously bought (mainly for Phase 2a) will not be sold back, pending decisions on a new Handsacre-Manchester proposal.

Thanks for clarifying… so there is a (very) faint glimmer of hope to claw some benefits back from phases 2a and 2b!

 

[Snow1964]

Thanks for clarifying… so there is a (very) faint glimmer of hope to claw some benefits back from phases 2a and 2b!

The tunnels were mentioned in a Mark Wild update few days ago, also talks (in carefully selected words) about the upcoming reset completion.

My view is that he is saying is he and new leadership are getting a grip on some diabolical poorly incentivised contracts (without actually criticising the Government teams that did it, or consultants seeing it as get rich quick money tree), and wants to get line finished, and make use of it properly which means building further north. Ideally moving the earthworks teams that have good knowledge rather than disbanding them.

But obviously doesn't want to say anything out of turn, or upset a minister by tying their hands to what should be done, so wording is selective on emphasis. Watch the video and see what you think.

 

[PLY2AYS]

But obviously doesn't want to say anything out of turn, or upset a minister by tying their hands to what should be done, so wording is selective on emphasis. Watch the video and see what you think.

Good ear.

The “I’ll leave it at that” at the end is most telling, a key speakers ‘I’ve run out of time’ or ‘I want to say more but shouldn’t’ end note… hopefully this alludes to more productive news to follow, rather than unspoken frustration with the process or bad news.

We live in hope.