Tunnel Borers Named After Notable Figures in HS2 Progression
In a significant step towards the completion of the HS2 project, engineers have started assembling two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to dig the final 4.5 miles that will carry HS2 trains underground into the heart of London. The TBMs will launch from an underground box at the Old Oak Common station and are expected to take about one and a half years to reach London Euston, the railway’s final southern terminus.
Female Names for Tradition and Honour
In a nod to tradition, these impressive machines have been given female names to honour prominent women in history. The first TBM is named Karen, after Karen Harrison, the UK’s first female train driver who worked out of the Old Oak Common depot. The second TBM is called Madeleine, in honour of Madeleine Nobbs, the former president of the Women’s Engineering Society.
Leadership Change and Project Oversight
The unveiling of the TBMs coincided with Mark Wild joining HS2 Ltd as the new chief executive. With his previous experience as the CEO of Crossrail, Mr. Wild will play a crucial role in overseeing the project’s transition to a functional railway, with a renewed focus on cost management.
Technical Details and Progress
The two 190m-long TBMs, constructed in Germany, were transported to Old Oak Common in sections and then reassembled on-site. During the summer, a 750-ton crane was used to lift the machines into the underground station box. Now, they are being reassembled at the station’s eastern end in preparation for the journey to Euston.
The TBMs function like underground factories, excavating tunnels with a turning cutterhead, lining them with pre-cast concrete tunnel segments, grouting them into place, and advancing at an average speed of 16 metres per day. Teams are working tirelessly around the clock below ground, with boring operations set to commence in 2025.
Progress is already well underway on the Northolt tunnel, a separate structure that will run west from Old Oak Common towards West Ruislip, showcasing the steady advancement of the HS2 project towards its completion.
