News Railway Geotechnics Tunneling HS2 has launched the final giant tunnelling machine on Britain’s new high-speed railway, marking a major milestone in the construction of the line between London and the West Midlands.
The 1,624-tonne tunnel boring machine Karen has begun its 4.5-mile journey from Old Oak Common towards Euston, excavating the second bore of the Euston Tunnel. Once complete, the twin-bore tunnel will bring high-speed trains directly into the heart of central London, improving capacity on the rail network and enabling faster, more reliable journeys.
Named after pioneering British train driver Karen Harrison, the launch was marked by two female drivers from Avanti West Coast, who joined engineers underground to start the machine and celebrate the next generation of women working across the railway.
Karene Northolt Tunnel beneath London.
Operating as a 24/7 underground factory, the 198-metre-long machine will excavate around 1.5 million tonnes of earth while installing thousands of concrete tunnel segments to form the tunnel lining. The material removed during tunnelling will be transported by rail for reuse in construction projects across the UK.
Delivering HS2 services into Euston Station is central to the regeneration of the surrounding area, helping unlock new homes, jobs and investment, with the potential to contribute £41 billion to the UK economy.
The tunnelling works are being delivered by HS2’s London tunnels contractor, the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture.
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