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HS2 tunnelling machines reach Chalfont St Peter ventilation shaft

HS2 tunnelling machines reach Chalfont St Peter ventilation shaft

Press release - HS2 this week confirmed that the two enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines digging the high speed rail project’s tunnels under the Chilterns have completed the first stage, ... More Information

HS2 reveals images of first landscaped ‘green tunnels’ for Bucks and Northants

HS2 reveals images of first landscaped ‘green tunnels’ for Bucks and Northants

Press release - New images showing the green tunnel at Greatworth, Northamptonshire, with similar designs planned for Wendover and Chipping Warden Modular design set to cut embedded carbon in ... More Information

Everything I learned in a morning hiding in a tunnel under the Chilterns – by Jonn Elledge

Hi Jonn – I hope you’re well. This is just a quick note to see if you would be interested in a guided tour of one of HS2’s first two tunnelling machines (TBMs)... They are ... More Information

HS2’s London Tunnels programme nears launch date as first TBM’s arrive

HS2’s London Tunnels programme nears launch date as first TBM’s arrive

Press release - The start of tunnelling for HS2 in London is set to begin in 2022 and progress has been made with the delivery of two giant Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) to ... More Information

HS2 Launches First Midlands Giant Tunnelling Machine

HS2 Launches First Midlands Giant Tunnelling Machine

Press release - Yesterday [2 December] HS2 CEO Mark Thurston pushed the button to start HS2’s tunnel boring machine on its one-mile journey under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire, marking ... More Information

Progress at HS2 Superhub station Old Oak Common as construction of main station box begins

Press release - Work to construct the 850m-long station box at HS2’s Old Oak Common station began last month as concrete frame and substructure specialist, Expanded, started on site. Expanded ... More Information

TBM cutterheads arrive at the HS2 West Ruislip portal

TBM cutterheads arrive at the HS2 West Ruislip portal

In West Ruislip, HS2 is preparing the way for the TBMs that will dig  the high speed rail tunnels under West London. The giant cutterheads - part of the first pair of TBMs that will dig  ... More Information

Final week to register for HS2’s biggest ever supply chain event

With just two weeks to go until its biggest ever ‘Meet the Contractor’ event launches, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd is making a final call for UK businesses to register their ... More Information

HS2’s first Midlands tunnelling machine name unveiled

HS2’s first Midlands tunnelling machine name unveiled

The name of HS2’s first TBM on the northern section of Phase One has been unveiled. During a ceremony on the construction site, which is managed by HS2 joint venture Balfour Beatty VINCI, the ... More Information

Tunnel Skills - Tunnel Vision

TunnelSkills – the national specialist training forum for the UK tunnelling industry – specialises in the application of immersive learning and new technology to improve training, ... More Information

Press release - Tunnel progress as HS2 completes first mile under the Chilterns

The first enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machine passed the one mile mark this week during the construction of the first tunnels for HS2 - Britain’s new high speed rail link between London, ... More Information

hyperTunnel – tunnelling reimagined

hyperTunnel – tunnelling reimagined

Innovation born out of necessity: the launch of hyperTunnel will see tunnels built completely differently in future, for huge global societal benefit. hyperTunnel is a new British tunnelling ... More Information

Shortlist for Washwood Heath train depot and network control centre

HS2 Ltd confirmed the shortlist of bidders in the running to build the high speed rail project’s network control centre and rolling stock maintenance depot. The contract – worth an ... More Information

Excavation begins for HS2’s first ‘barn design’ tunnel vent shaft

Excavation begins for HS2’s first ‘barn design’ tunnel vent shaft

Following the launch of HS2's first two giant TBMs, engineers working on Britain’s new high-speed railway have now begun excavating the first of five shafts that will provide ventilation ... More Information

Press release - Momentum builds as HS2 launches second giant tunnelling machine

Press release - Momentum builds as HS2 launches second giant tunnelling machine

HS2 this week launched ‘Cecilia’ - the second of two enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines that will excavate the ten mile long tunnels beneath the Chiltern hills just outside London. ... More Information

HS2 launches national vote to name Warwickshire TBM

On the 09/06/2021 HS2 launched a national vote to name their third TBM – weight 2,000 t and diameter 10 m - that will dig a one-mile twin bore tunnel under Long Itchington Wood in ... More Information

HS2 launches webinar series to help Britain’s SMEs bid for work on the project

HS2 Ltd has announced a series of webinars, every Wednesday for 6 weeks until Wednesday 14th July, to ensure British businesses benefit from over 400,000 contract opportunities that building ... More Information

HS2 launches TBM Florence the first of 10 TBMs to dig underneath the Chilterns

HS2 launches TBM Florence the first of 10 TBMs to dig underneath the Chilterns

On 13/05/2021 HS2 Ltd launched the 2,000 t TBM Florence from HS2’s South Portal site next to the M25 in Buckinghamshire. It’s the first of 10  TBMs that will collectively dig ... More Information

EIA required for the planned Bromford Tunnel extension on HS2 railway

HS2 is developing a more detailed design for Phase One of the HS2 railway, following the appointment of its main works contractors. The design process is helping HS2 plan and prepare for the ... More Information

HS2 casts first of 112,000 Chiltern tunnel wall segments ahead of TBM launch

HS2 casts first of 112,000 Chiltern tunnel wall segments ahead of TBM launch

Preparations for the launch of HS2’s first giant TBM ramped up last week. The first of 112,000 segments for the Chiltern tunnel lining rolled off a purpose-built production line. The temporary ... More Information

The Long Itchington TBM naming competition has been launched

At the beginning of March HS2 Ltd launched a competition for residents of the Warwickshire area and for schools to help find a name for the TBM that will start excavating under Long Itchington Wood ... More Information

Long Itchington Wood tunnel HS2 update

Long Itchington Wood tunnel HS2  update

Collins Earthworks has completed excavating the north portal site of  the twin tube Long Itchington Wood tunnel (1.61 km/1mile length, 9-10 m diameter) , ready for the launch of the TBM that ... More Information

HS2 accelerates north as MPs give go-ahead to next phase to Crewe

HS2 accelerates north as MPs give go-ahead to next phase to Crewe

Parliament continues to show very strong support for HS2, as the Bill for the extension from the West Midlands to Crewe – Phase 2A – is given Royal ... More Information

Press release - HS2 shortlists Track Systems and Tunnel and Lineside M&E suppliers

Press release - HS2 shortlists Track Systems and Tunnel and Lineside M&E suppliers

HS2 today shortlisted bidders for its Track Systems and for Tunnel and Lineside Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) systems. The winning organisations will go on to deliver around 280km of ... More Information

Press Release - HS2’s first giant tunnelling machines arrive in the UK

Press Release - HS2’s first giant tunnelling machines arrive in the UK

HS2’s first two giant Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) have arrived in the UK and will be ready to start work on the UK’s largest infrastructure project early next year. The two ... More Information

4-day HS2 Ltd virtual event for contract opportunities begins

HS2 Ltd, the company delivering Britain’s new high speed railway, kicked off a four-day event yesterday that will showcase many of the EUR13.49 bn (GBP12bn) worth of contract opportunities. ... More Information

HS2 launches first virtual ‘Meet the Contractor’ event

Registrations now open for over 1,000 one-to-one meetings with HS2 contractors.  HS2 Ltd’s third annual ‘Meet the Contractor’ event takes place between 23rd-26th November ... More Information

Designs for HS2 Canterbury Works vent shaft and headhouse revealed

On 27/10/2020 HS2 revealed updated designs for the Canterbury Works vent shaft headhouse and compound, in South Kilburn, London.  It will be one of four structures that will be built to provide ... More Information

Press release - HS2 awards contract for first two London tunnelling machines

Press release - HS2 awards contract for first two London tunnelling machines

Press release - HS2 awards contract for first two London tunnelling machines This month the contract for the first two giant tunnel boring machines for London’s HS2 tunnels was signed with ... More Information

Chiltern tunnel project updates

Chiltern tunnel project updates

HS2 has revealed the design for the Amersham vent shaft headhouse which is a design for one of 5 structures that will be built to provide ventilation and emergency access to the high-speed rail ... More Information

The HS2 Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs)– Press release

The TBMs will excavate tunnels, reducing the environmental impacts in rural areas. What is HS2? HS2 is a state-of-the-art, high-speed line critical for the UK’s low-carbon transport ... More Information

Progress at Chiltern tunnel site as HS2 prepares for arrival of first TBMs

Progress at Chiltern tunnel site as HS2 prepares for arrival of first TBMs

Preparation for the arrival of HS2’s first giant TBMs has passed a major milestone with the completion of the 17m high headwall and ground reinforcement at what will become the south ... More Information

New images of 1ST Chiltern tunnels launch site

New images of 1ST Chiltern tunnels launch site

The excavation of the TBMs launch site and the construction of the concrete precast plant for the Chiltern tunnels on the London to Birmingham high speed rail line, HS2 First Phase project has now ... More Information

Government confirms Notice to proceed on High Speed 2

The Department for Transport  has given approval for HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed to the four Main Works Civils Contractors working on the project. On the 15/04/20, following on from the ... More Information

Innovation in Tunnels: Construction, Maintenance, Safety and Fire Protection

This conference will be held between the 11th and 12th April 2019  in  Amsterdam, Netherlands Partial Topics Covered ... More Information

Balfour Beatty VINCI announces appointment of new Managing Director for HS2 Joint Venture

Balfour Beatty VINCI today announces the appointment of Mark Davies as Managing Director for its HS2 Joint Venture.   Mark Davies will take on the role from Mark Cutler who leaves after a ... More Information

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Tunnelling News

Morocco’s proposed $13 billion underwater tunnel to connect Europe to Africa by 2030s

An historic intercontinental rail link is aiming to link Europe to Morocco with an ambitious underwater tunnel. The Moroccan National Company for Strait Studies (SNED) announced last ... More Information

Government set to fund £1bn final HS2 London tunnel drive

The project was halted as part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s £6.5bn cost-cutting plan announced last October. This involved axing phase 2 to Manchester and finding a private investor ... More Information

HS2 Project Update, May 2024

Our Victorian railways have carried us successfully through history, but with passenger numbers continuing to rise, investing in new, modern railway lines like HS2 is the key to meet the ... More Information

PM inaugurates breakthrough of Sunkoshi Marin Diversion tunnel

A breakthrough of the Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multi-purpose Project tunnel has been made... More Information

Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown extension moves closer to tunnelling completion

The project is being delivered by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx. West End Connectors was awarded the C$729M (£425M) contract to design, build ... More Information

_Fehmarnbelt tunnel program hits major milestone

DEME Group said that the Fehmarnbelt tunnel project, one of Europe's largest infrastructure projects, has achieved a significant milestone with ... More Information

The incredbile new £12bn mega-tunnel that could end traffic chaos in world famous city

Construction on the £12.63 billion mega-tunnel has already begun and it is expected to be open in 2035. · Animation for The Hudson River Tunnel project. More Information

Great Lakes Tunnel Project makes progress

Ready to move forward. Enbridge is preparing to begin tunnel construction as soon as possible, following receipt of environmental permits ... More Information

Hudson Tunnel Project is expected to create 95,000 jobs

The report is based on research done on behalf of the Gateway Development Commission. “The Hudson Tunnel Project is the most pressing infrastructure ... More Information

The $2.8BN Megaproject Dividing London

London is building a controversial new tunnel under the River Thames. Head to https://brilliant.org/TheB1M/ for a 30-day free trial + the first 200 people will receive 20% off their ... More Information

Namma Metro: Underground tunnel work on Pink Line 95% complete

This underground portion includes the ambitious task of constructing 20.992 km of twin tunnels. Progress is also underway on the construction of 18 ... More Information

How an ancient water tunnel design is cooling 21st-century streets

In Seville, 3,000-year-old underground technology is being transformed in modern day air-conditioning. An aqueduct at the unopened CartujaQanat pilot ... More Information

Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program B&P Tunnel Replacement Project

Project Description: Proposed utility and roadway relocations include civil work to support the construction of Amtrak's Frederick Douglass Tunnel. More Information

Fehmarnbelt | Purpose-built vessel arrives to line tunnel trench with gravel 'cushion'

The Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link is a new road and rail tunnel being constructed between Denmark and Germany. It will comprise 89 precast concrete ... More Information

Successful Breakthrough of Gudauri Tunnel in Georgia's North-South Corridor KK Highway Project

KAZBEGI, Georgia, April 23, 2024--The 10-kilometer LOT1 Section is constructed by China Railway Tunnel Group Co., Ltd., of which the Gudauri ... More Information

Construction of Shinku La Tunnel to bolster all-weather connectivity in Ladakh Rising Kashmir

Leh, Apr 21: Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, announced that work on the strategically vital Shinku La Tunnel is set to ... More Information

Tunneling works for key Davao bypass road seen completed this year

The Davao City Bypass Construction Project is among the 14 foreign-assisted infrastructure projects approved by the National Economic Development ... More Information

Hamptons Subway Cuts Ribbon on New Foxwoods Tunnel

Hamptons Subway, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, cut the ribbon to begin construction of the new tunnel from Sag Harbor to ... More Information

_TBM quartet tackles differing geology on twin bore tunnel under London

All four tunnel boring machines are now working on HS2's Northholt tunnel, which is divided into two geologically differing sections. More Information

CRCHI video

New CRCHI video for world leading underground equipment - Technology innovates the world... More Information

Deer Creek update

Exciting update from the Deer Creek project team! The Wasatch Worm is almost in the ground and will be ready to start tunneling this week. Over the next few months, it will be devouring a ... More Information

Stonehenge tunnel: Underground cabling installed, while other enabling works paused

The scheme, which involves the construction of a new 12.8km two-lane dual carriageway with a 3.2km tunnel under the Unesco World Heritage Site, was ... More Information

Nepal's first transport tunnel being built with Japanese assistance

Nepal and Japan signed the contract for construction of the tunnel on September 23, 2019, while the commencement started on November 14, 2019. More ... More Information

Cowi selected as technical advisor on world's first ever ship tunnel proposed in Norway

Construction is currently estimated to begin next year. The objective of the Stad Ship Tunnel project is to improve the navigability and safety of ... More Information

How Arnold Dix became a Himalayan hero after rescuing 41 workers from Indian tunnel collapse

Arnold Dix slid his hand into a gap in the rock at the entrance to a tunnel where 41 men were trapped alive, put his back against the cold stone and listened, and felt, and listened some ... More Information

Central Interceptor Tunnel Boring Machine

Watercare Services Limited’s Central Interceptor Tunnel Boring Machine, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, has achieved a significant milestone, reaching 10,000m (10 kilometres) since leaving Māngere in ... More Information

New tunnelling machine joins three others digging high-speed line under London

Construction of the new HS2 line has hit another major milestone with the launch of the fourth – and final – machine being used to build the giant Northolt Tunnel beneath the capital... More Information

Lower Thames Crossing planning decision moves a step closer

On 21 March, the Planning Inspectorate confirmed that the Examining Authority has sent their recommendation report on the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order (DCO) application ... More Information

AECOM-Jacobs JV signs on to $6B Amtrak tunnel job

Amtrak is gearing up to dig deep in Baltimore. The railroad company selected ADVANCE, a joint venture between Dallas-based infrastructure firms AECOM and Jacobs, to serve as the delivery ... More Information

Lower Thames tunnel boosts new orders data

UK construction contract awards reached their highest level in February 2024 for seven months, according to one of the industry's data monitoring ... More Information

The incredible new £53m tunnel in Spain linking two pretty cities

The work is part of efforts to modernise the railway line between Ourense and Lugo in the autonomous Galicia region. Spanish construction giant ... More Information

ECRL hits new milestone with the completion of three tunnel excavations in Bentong district

The ECRL project features the construction of 41 tunnels with a total length of approximately 69 km along its rail alignment. Section A (Kota Bharu- ... More Information

Boring Co. receives go-ahead to drill more Vegas Loop tunnels

LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill offered the company access to safety officers after the company was fined $100000 for construction violations ... More Information

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $4 Billion in Support

The project includes construction of a new two-track heavy rail tunnel along the Northeast Corridor from the Bergen Palisades in New Jersey to ... More Information

World's Longest Twin-Lane Tunnel Inaugurated In Arunachal Pradesh

Constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for INR 825 crore, the tunnel is strategically vital due to its proximity to the Line of Actual ... More Information

The £13.3bn tunnel 8.5 miles long that could transform one of the world's biggest cities

The Second Avenue Subway's per-mile construction cost is higher than that of other projects in similar cities like London's Crossrail and Paris's ... More Information

First look inside Silvertown tunnel as TfL confirms summer 2025 opening

... tunnel construction in the face of environmental concerns. Construction is costing about £1bn – with a further £1.2bn due in annual repayments ... More Information

Consortium of Aecom and Arcadis appointed to tunnel and station design contract for Ontario metro

The scope of work for the PTUS contract includes construction of 3km of twin tunnels underneath Pape Avenue between the Gerrard tunnel portal and ... More Information

Snowy Hydro is inching towards powering the nation

... tunnelling progress of one of its critical boring machines ... Some 80 metres underground in temperatures well in excess of 30C, tunnel boring machine ... More Information