HS2 TBM Progress

[Wyrleybart]

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.

Certainly seems like it. Who knows what the future holds.
AIUI the Delta junction is being built as originally designed including the junction towards HS2B, but no further. If this is still the case then maybe that lead might be extended onto a link with the Derby line between Kingsbury and Tamworth. I doubt HS2B will reappear though.

The point is that huge rail infrastructure projects are regarded as expensice white elephants up until the time they actually start carrying passengers. The Elizabeth line is probably the best example of that but I think HS2 Euston-Handsacre will eventually prove to be the WCML "fast lines" it asnt fully sold as.

 

[Palmerston]

Getting HS2B as far as the midland main line would mean the quickest way to Derby/Sheffield/Nottingham is via HS2. It may be a roundabout route but it provides a lot of extra capacity. For this reason I think it should definitely be kept on the table, as the geography here was easier than the next bit going from East Midlands to Leeds via Sheffield.

 

[Wyrleybart]

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.

Agree very much with that.
I am a little optimistic that Olly Glover and the team on the Liverpool and Manchester project, and messrs Rotheram and Burnham can prove to the government that Phase 2A is desperately needed.

Despite the Elizabeth Line being dramatically late and over budget, it is here and carrying record numbers of pax - sufficient that the 2nd crossing is being developed. The link from Delta Junction to the north and north east is essential.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Despite the Elizabeth Line being dramatically late and over budget, it is here and carrying record numbers of pax - sufficient that the 2nd crossing is being developed.

Sorry what is the 2nd crossing?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Sorry what is the 2nd crossing?

I’m assuming XR2…

 

[Wyrleybart]

I’m assuming XR2…

Sorry. I didn't know it's official name. Thanks

 

[Chris125]

Despite the Elizabeth Line being dramatically late and over budget, it is here and carrying record numbers of pax - sufficient that the 2nd crossing is being developed. The link from Delta Junction to the north and north east is essential.

AIUI development work on Crossrail 2 was paused some years ago, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon given the impact of Covid on the SWML in particular.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

AIUI development work on Crossrail 2 was paused some years ago, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon given the impact of Covid on the SWML in particular.

It's still being kept somewhat alive/relevant given the National Library plans include provisions for it

 

[Bald Rick]

AIUI development work on Crossrail 2 was paused some years ago, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon given the impact of Covid on the SWML in particular.

Correct. AIUI the only work being done for crossrail 2 is related to the safeguarded property, ie making sure that property developers take the Crossrail 2 design into account when making property proposals that re in the safeguarded area. There is no railway development work being done.

 

[Snow1964]

Latest on Euston TBMs, one starts next week

From late January 2026 to late June 2027, we will be building the Euston Tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston using two tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

We expect to launch the first tunnel boring machine (TBM Madeleine) from the Old Oak Common site in week beginning 26 January 2026 for the upline, with the second downline TBM (TBM Karen) launched about a month later.

The TBMs will progress up to 150 metres a week. The depth from the ground surface to the top of the tunnel varies between 35 and 40 metres. We expect both TBMs to complete their journey to the Euston Cavern by late June 2027.

Some residents living near the Euston Tunnel route may hear some groundborne noise as the TBMs pass, or when we are building cross passages between the tunnels. We will update you as the tunnel construction progresses.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Euston-Tunnel-AWN-Jan-2026-1-1.pdf

 

[absolutelymilk]

Latest on Euston TBMs, one starts next week

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Euston-Tunnel-AWN-Jan-2026-1-1.pdf

Thanks, also being discussed in the HS2 Euston thread

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Latest on Euston TBMs, one starts next week

150m a week is near enough 21m a day.
That's good going compared to the 15m/day planned for the previous HS2 tunnel bores, and some of those TBMs did not achieve even a 10m/day average.
Maybe the better-known ground conditions under London mean a higher rate can be expected.
But very good news they will be starting soon.

 

[hwl]

150m a week is near enough 21m a day.
That's good going compared to the 15m/day planned for the previous HS2 tunnel bores, and some of those TBMs did not achieve even a 10m/day average.
Maybe the better-known ground conditions under London mean a higher rate can be expected.
But very good news they will be starting soon.

Or is it that both TBMs will progress at a combined 21m/day e.g. 10.5 each? but...

June 2027 completion is good - this is inline with the previously estimate of 18 months tunnel duration.

Getting both TBMs to Euston for June 2027 would need ~192m / week combined average or 27.4m / day combined or 13.7m /TBM/day - very close to the previous bore planned average. HS2 numbers in the press release aren't adding up or has someone reused some old numbers in the press release?
This suggest some reasonably long pauses at the access points along the route and a slow initial start to get the TBMs out of the Station box but reasonable pace when the are actually tunnelling.

Good news that they are starting shortly compared to the previously expected summer start.
About 5% of the total segments needed were already on site in early Autumn with more space that could be filled - About 8% of the total can be stored on site and lots stockpiled in rail served storage off site.

Getting the OOC-Euston Tunnels done is key to enabling confidence in Euston development as well as providing a potential spoil removal route for the Euston area reducing road movements. It also suggests that progress in the OOC box has been good as running the TBMs will make access to the station box a bit harder.

 

[stuving]

150m a week is near enough 21m a day.
That's good going compared to the 15m/day planned for the previous HS2 tunnel bores, and some of those TBMs did not achieve even a 10m/day average.
Maybe the better-known ground conditions under London mean a higher rate can be expected.
But very good news they will be starting soon.

The notice did say "up to 150m a week". And "up to", as we all know, means the same as "less than" (in this usage).

So it's a bit high, but then a figure is only being published to give a reader of the progress updates a yardstick to judge them. So if they do 50m in a week, that can be seen as not very good, while 120m would be good enough and don't expect much more. Of course that relies on the reader having a fair grasp of reality in these things, which is a big assumption but perhaps fair for those people who actually read these HS2 notices.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Or is it that both TBMs will progress at a combined 21m/day e.g. 10.5 each? but...

Yes you're right.
The bores are I think 7.2km each (some of the 8km bores have already been excavated at the OOC end), and a 17-month project time is 74 weeks, so an average of just about 100m/week per TBM, or about 15m/day like the older TBMs.

.

 

[hwl]

Yes you're right.
The bores are I think 7.2km each (some of the 8km bores have already been excavated at the OOC end), and a 17-month project time is 74 weeks, so an average of just about 100m/week per TBM, or about 15m/day like the older TBMs.

.

I just did some further back of the envelope based on the map in the pdf based on expected dates for the 2 intermediate locations:
Based on the map initial pace for the TBMs is slowish at 95m/week or 13.6m/day for the 1st ~2km, then 220m/week (31.4m/day matching the highest pace for short period to the west of OOC) over this summer for 1.75km of straight tunnel - this is is dead straight and the tunnels are widely horizontally spaced, then 76m/week (10.5m/day) for the last 45% with lots of curves, tunnels moving to above and below each other for the last ~1km and plenty of complexity (and presumably a long break at Christmas and New Year).

The average pace hides lots of variation...

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has issued a video confirming tunnelling to Euston has started.

Video shows TBM pre assembly and installation at Old Oak cut and cover section

 

[vic-rijrode]

HS2 has issued a video confirming tunnelling to Euston has started.

Video shows TBM pre assembly and installation at Old Oak cut and cover section

How far the Greathead Shield has advanced!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

HS2 has issued a video confirming tunnelling to Euston has started.

Absolutely fabulous news.

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has issued media release that the Porous portal entrances at northern end of Chiltern tunnel are now complete. These have holes to let out air to avoid sonic booms as trains enter at 200mph

Engineers and site teams building HS2’s tunnel beneath the Chiltern Hills have completed construction work on two huge portal extensions at its northern end.

The structures, known as 'porous portals', are specially engineered to eliminate the possibility of trains creating ‘sonic boom’ when they enter the tunnel at 200mph. Built near Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, they are identical to a pair completed earlier this year that are 10 miles away at the tunnel’s southern portal.

Concluding the northern porous portals project is a significant achievement for the people who built it.

The team from Align, HS2’s civil engineering main works contractor for this section of the railway, moved to build the northern portals as construction of the southern pair wound down – taking the insights and experience with them.

Applying their learnings, the team was able to almost halve build time from 20 months to just 12. This reflects the efforts made across HS2 in the last year to boost productivity levels – a major focus of the comprehensive reset of Britain’s biggest infrastructure project.

The porous portals’ design is unique, being engineered according to the physical characteristics of the tunnel, including length and concrete track bed, plus the speed at which trains will travel through it.

Porous portals completed on HS2’s longest tunnel

Build time reduced from 20 months to 12 months

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[Geogregor]

Is there some tracker showing Euston TBMs locations? Or website showing daily or weekly progress?

I know it is just starting but it would be good to be able to follow the progress.

 

[Snow1964]

Is there some tracker showing Euston TBMs locations? Or website showing daily or weekly progress?

I know it is just starting but it would be good to be able to follow the progress.

It's on HS2 route map
At top have to select tunnels (rather than bridges, stations etc)

Interactive route map

Use HS2’s interactive map to explore the entire route of Britain’s new high-speed railway. Find present and upcoming works, tunnels, station locations and community updates — all in one easy-to-navigate map.

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[76020]

It's on HS2 route map
At top have to select tunnels (rather than bridges, stations etc)

Interactive route map

Use HS2’s interactive map to explore the entire route of Britain’s new high-speed railway. Find present and upcoming works, tunnels, station locations and community updates — all in one easy-to-navigate map.

www.hs2.org.uk

The first TBM to dig the Euston Tunnels, Madeleine, is now shown on the HS2 Tunnel Tracker

HS2 Tunnel Tracker

A website to track and visualise the progress of High Speed 2 (HS2) tunnel boring machines from London to Birmingham.

tunneltracker.com

 

[themiller]

The first TBM to dig the Euston Tunnels, Madeleine, is now shown on the HS2 Tunnel Tracker

HS2 Tunnel Tracker

A website to track and visualise the progress of High Speed 2 (HS2) tunnel boring machines from London to Birmingham.

tunneltracker.com

I note that the distance for Madeline is in miles but the finished tunnels are quoted in kilometres!

 

[Geogregor]

It's on HS2 route map
At top have to select tunnels (rather than bridges, stations etc)

Interactive route map

Use HS2’s interactive map to explore the entire route of Britain’s new high-speed railway. Find present and upcoming works, tunnels, station locations and community updates — all in one easy-to-navigate map.

www.hs2.org.uk

Thanks. I guess we need to wait a bit to get some figures.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Feb 2026 ==

I'm not sure if it is the best place to ask, but I'll try.

Any news regarding restarting works on ventilation shafts between Old Oak Common and Euston? Last time I was reading about them the works were still on hold.

As tunneling is now ongoing, shouldn't they crack on with it?

 

[76020]

The HS2 tunnel tracker for Madeleine has been updated on 18/02/2026, 55 metres in 15 days.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The HS2 tunnel tracker for Madeleine has been updated on 18/02/2026, 55 metres in 15 days.

Outstanding. I love it.

The first TBM to dig the Euston Tunnels, Madeleine, is now shown on the HS2 Tunnel Tracker

HS2 Tunnel Tracker

A website to track and visualise the progress of High Speed 2 (HS2) tunnel boring machines from London to Birmingham.

tunneltracker.com

 

[PLY2AYS]

Outstanding. I love it.

I like that link provided for the tracker.
But based on averages of the tunnelling done up until now; do you think that June ‘27 may be ambitious for arrival at Euston?

(I’m assuming however, lessons have been learned from all the tunnelling up until now, so hopeful that will speed things or processes up)

 

[Snow1964]

I like that link provided for the tracker.
But based on averages of the tunnelling done up until now; do you think that June ‘27 may be ambitious for arrival at Euston?

The tunnels are about 7200m

Once startup has got upto speed, should be able to dig about 100-130m average per week. So would take about 60-70 weeks, which is consistent with June 2027 breakthrough.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

TBMs always start slowly and get more efficient as they go.
It's a more complicated supply chain this time with the off-line logistics tunnel involved.