HS2 TBM Progress

[LNW-GW Joint]

I have received a response 'You are correct in saying that the TBM progress was inaccurate - the distance tunneled to date was entered rather than the distance remaining, and we will ensure this reads correctly moving forward."
I've not checked the web site to check they have updated the details yet.

Yes they have.
For July 17, Madeleine shows 5562m to go, Karen 5837m, 15/20m per day respectively since July 3.
They are both past Harrow Road now, and are only about 200m south of the WCML trace near Kensal Green station.

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

 

[Snow1964]

Per the In your area map (both updated 29 July)

Madeline 5287m to go, 275m since 17 July
Karen 5613m to go, 224m since 17 July

Interactive route map

Explore the interactive HS2 route map to see the railway, stations and construction works and find information about HS2 activity in your local area.

www.hs2.org.uk

 

[hwl]

Per the In your area map (both updated 29 July)

Madeline 5287m to go, 275m since 17 July
Karen 5613m to go, 224m since 17 July

Interactive route map

Explore the interactive HS2 route map to see the railway, stations and construction works and find information about HS2 activity in your local area.

www.hs2.org.uk

22.6 / 18.9m per day average which is inline with expectations who what they suggest for when they got going properly (e.g. clear of the station box, other railway, canal and at least 3 sets of NG and UKPN HV electricity cable tunnels)

 

[Geogregor]

https://www.railtechnologymagazine....cy-plaque-deep-beneath-kensal-green-cemetery?

A new commemorative plaque has been installed 40 metres below ground on the HS2 Euston Tunnel, marking the point where Britain's new high-speed railway passes beneath the final resting place of one of the world's most influential engineering families.​

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

And the TBM positions have been updated for August 7 (9 days since July 29):
Madelaine has 5112m to go, Karen has 5575m.
So the progress is +175m (19m/day) for Madelaine and +38m (4m/day) for Karen.
Karen must have slowed for a reason, maybe TBM maintenance.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

And the TBM positions have been updated for August 7 (9 days since July 29):
Madelaine has 5112m to go, Karen has 5575m.
So the progress is +175m (19m/day) for Madelaine and +38m (4m/day) for Karen.
Karen must have slowed for a reason, maybe TBM maintenance.

Yikes. That is a big slowdown.

 

[hwl]

Yikes. That is a big slowdown.

There are at least 3 weeks (at fastest pace) of segments so it isn't that.

As a thought Madeline is in roughly the right place for the 3rd cross passage. The cross passage areas need special segments / that have extra reinforcement can be cut through /removed later. Progress throught the cross passage areas has always been slow as there is extra manual assembly.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There are at least 3 weeks (at fastest pace) of segments so it isn't that.

As a thought Madeline is in roughly the right place for the 3rd cross passage. The cross passage areas need special segments / that have extra reinforcement can be cut through /removed later. Progress through the cross passage areas has always been slow as there is extra manual assembly.

Thanks. Makes sense.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Another HS2 update on the Euston TBMs, for Aug 11 (just 4 days from Aug 7):
Madelaine is at 5071m to go, Karen at 5533m, both about +40m so about 10m/day.

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

 

[Snow1964]

An update on Old Oak Tunnel (the tapered one just to west of station, that runs to the crossover box), dates of enlargement for next 6 months, number of dates and details attached

I realise this short tunnel is not dug by a TBM, but this HS2 tunnel progress thread seems appropriate

Location
Old Oak Common, Acton

Duration
From the 29 June 2026, tunnelling works ongoing until December 2026. Surface works on Old Oak Common station site: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. Below ground works 24/7.

What we are doing
We are continuing to build the Old Oak Common tunnel between our Victoria Road Crossover Box site and Old Oak Common station. The first phase of work will involve the breaking of the concrete support wall within
the tunnel.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Update-Old-Oak-Common-tunnel-update-June-2026.pdf

 

[GRALISTAIR]

An update on Old Oak Tunnel (the tapered one just to west of station, that runs to the crossover box), dates of enlargement for next 6 months, number of dates and details attached

I realise this short tunnel is not dug by a TBM, but this HS2 tunnel progress thread seems appropriate.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Update-Old-Oak-Common-tunnel-update-June-2026.pdf

I trust engineers ( for obvious reasons being a STEM man myself) but when I saw the phrase “breaking of the support wall “ I did a double take!

 

[zwk500]

I trust engineers ( for obvious reasons being a STEM man myself) but when I saw the phrase “breaking of the support wall “ I did a double take!

Could perhaps have been better phrased as 'breaking out the temporary support wall for the final configuration'

 

[hwl]

Could perhaps have been better phrased as 'breaking out the temporary support wall for the final configuration'

Agreed and they should probably get all their material for public release to be checked by an engineer first to avoid any raised eyebrows!

 

[Bald Rick]

Agreed and they should probably get all their material for public release to be checked by an engineer first to avoid any raised eyebrows!

Definitely preferable to get press releases checked by an Engineer than structural designs checked by a Comms manager.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Definitely preferable to get press releases checked by an Engineer than structural designs checked by a Comms manager.

LOL. Ab-so-lute-ly. Then again, I am biased!

 

[zwk500]

Agreed and they should probably get all their material for public release to be checked by an engineer first to avoid any raised eyebrows!

It's quite possible that the comms people did have some level of talk with the engineers but it's quite easy when you're on a big project to forget that not everybody will know immediately that the wall you're breaking out is a temporary one, or that the comms person then trimmed it down for publication.

 

[Snow1964]

Another HS2 update on the Euston TBMs, for Aug 11 (just 4 days from Aug 7):
Madelaine is at 5071m to go, Karen at 5533m, both about +40m so about 10m/day.

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

Madeline updated 16 August
4937m to go (134m since 11 Aug) about 27m per day

Karen updated 21 August
5282m to go (251m since 11 Aug) about 25m per day

Interactive route map

Explore the interactive HS2 route map to see the railway, stations and construction works and find information about HS2 activity in your local area.

www.hs2.org.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 21:31 ==

Madeline updated 27 August
4866m to go (71m since 16 Aug) about 6.5m per day

Karen updated 27 August
5136m to go (148m since 21 Aug) about 25m per day