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The second of HS2's TBM sets off underneath the capital

On 27 October 2022 HS2 Ltd launched their fifth TBM Caroline, that will be constructing tunnels for the HS2 railway through London. HS2’s first London TBM Sushila - started on the 06 October ... More Information

HS2 Chiltern tunnel – ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ reach 4 mile point at Chalfont St Giles

HS2 Chiltern tunnel – ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ reach 4 mile point at Chalfont St Giles

Press Release - Two enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines digging HS2’s longest tunnels passed the second of five ventilation shafts this week, 4 miles into their 10 mile drive under the ... More Information

Giant HS2 TBM cutterhead’s impressive journey back to start second dig in Warwickshire

After HS2’s first tunnel breakthrough by TBM Dorothy at the south portal site in July this year, the front part of the TBM has been dismantled and transported back to the tunnel’s ... More Information

HS2 completes first tunnel cross passages

Press release - As the TBMs Florence and Cecilia under the Chilterns approach the 6.5km (4-mile) mark, HS2 completed the first of 38 bypasses - to be used in emergencies - between the northbound and ... More Information

Press release -HS2 celebrates historic first tunnelling breakthrough

Press release -HS2 celebrates historic first tunnelling breakthrough

HS2 Ltd is today [Tuesday 26 July] celebrating the very first tunnelling breakthrough on Europe’s largest infrastructure project. A 2,000-tonne TBM named ‘Dorothy’ – after ... More Information

HS2 offers tunnelling career trial in Warwickshire

HS2 offers tunnelling career trial in Warwickshire

Press release - HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), is offering the chance to trial a new career working on the giant tunnelling machines that will bore beneath the ground ... More Information

Bramble, the first mini HS2 TBM

The site at Wormwood Scrubs is where HS2 will relocate the Stamford Brook Sewer and some utility services currently running under Old Oak Common Lane. This needs to be done in order to construct the ... More Information

Progress at HS2’s Victoria Road site as base slab is completed

Progress at HS2’s Victoria Road site as base slab is completed

HS2’s Main Works Contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture, SCS JV, have taken a major step forward in their work at the Victoria Road Site in Acton, completing the base slab ... More Information

HS2 reveals noise-cancelling Chiltern Tunnel north portal design

HS2 reveals noise-cancelling Chiltern Tunnel north portal design

Press release - HS2 has revealed the designs for the north portal of the Chiltern Tunnel, which has been specially designed to cut noise from trains entering and exiting the project's longest tunnel ... More Information

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

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Tunnelling News

CERN releases report on the feasibility of a possible Future Circular Collider

The estimated cost of construction of the FCC electron–positron stage, including the tunnel and all the infrastructure, is 15 billion Swiss francs... More Information

TBM break through on Auckland's £915M wastewater megaproject completes 16.2km tunnel

Auckland's major wastewater infrastructure project, the Central Interceptor, has reached a significant milestone with the final breakthrough of ... More Information

In pics: construction site of Chongming-Taicang tunnel

A smart assembling vehicle works at "Linghang" large diameter shield tunneling machine at the construction site of the Chongming-Taicang tunnel, part of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu ... More Information

IN PICTURES: Spectacular images of the removal of HS2's huge tunnelling machine

TBM Sushila was used to construct part of the Northolt Tunnel – an 8.4-mile tunnel ... construction/london-tunnels/progress-3/northolt-tunnel/tbm- ... More Information

Historic tunnels uncovered beneath Salisbury station during £5.3M upgrade project

Engineers from Network Rail and South Western Railway have uncovered a network of tunnels and rooms beneath Salisbury station during ongoing £5.3M upgrades to the station’s forecourt... More Information

Massive $450m road project connecting Russia and Georgia with six bridges & five tunnels

Massive $450m road project connecting Russia and Georgia with six bridges & five tunnels. The new road will pass through Georgia along a trade route ... More Information

Buca Metro Tunnel Excavations Reached 50 Percent Level

Important progress is being made in the construction of the line, where four tunnel boring machines (TBMs), each 100 meters long, 7 meters wide and ... More Information

'Very promising' narrow-reef boring technology nearing rollout stage

A novel tunnel boring machine (TBM) will open up Bokoni's narrow tabular dipping PGM orebody to allow narrow-reef boring to take place, so that ... More Information

A vast undersea tunnel is being built

The 7.4 billion-euro ($7.7 billion) project is a huge undertaking, in every sense. Each section of the tunnel is colossal. These concrete structures ... More Information

National Grid gets planning permission for Grain to Tilbury upgrade with new Thames tunnel

National Grid has secured full planning approval for the Grain to Tilbury project, which includes a new power tunnel under the River Thames... More Information

Right track tunnel of Huangjialing Tunnel in NW China's Gansu drilled through

A staff member works on the construction site of the right track tunnel of the Huangjialing Tunnel in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest ... More Information

Shetland Islands tunnels plan takes 'huge step forward' with sonar investigations

This phase will further inform the project's development and feasibility. The tunnel project, seen by locals as pivotal for improving ... More Information

Construction of the Tarande tunnel begins next week

On March 17th, in Vilnius district Construction of a tunnel and other related infrastructure will begin at Taranda and Bukiškis. This project aims ... More Information

Delhi Metro's Golden Line achieves major tunnel breakthrough;

The construction of Delhi Metro's Golden Line achieved a major milestone on Thursday as the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) broke through at the ... More Information

RiverRenew Tunnel Project Nearing Completion

The RiverRenew Tunnel System Project, the largest infrastructure investment in Alexandria's history, is nearing completion. More Information

Sydney Metro West tunnels enter final stretch after big breakthrough

Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) constructing the huge Sydney Metro West tunnels have made a smashing entrance 24 metres below the surface. More Information

Chennai Metro Rail launches first tunnel boring machine for underground tunnelling in Kolathur

Corridor 5 begins at Madhavaram Milk Colony and connects through Koyambedu, Porur, Alandur and other residential/commercial areas of the city to ... More Information

Element Six, Master Drilling Announce Tunnel Development Partnership

Element Six and Master Drilling will deliver a diamond-enabled solution designed to increase tunneling development speed, reducing costs and minimize the environmental impact of tunnel ... More Information

Gateway Project Tunnel Connecting NY and NJ Moves Forward

Five Gateway contracts have been awarded so far, including one on Predergast's first day for construction on the Manhattan side of the tunnel... More Information

HSR Xi'an – Yan'an: Completion of All Tunnels in the Project

The HSR Xi'an – Yan'an has completed the excavation of all tunnels, including the Tongchuan Tunnel. This is a key milestone in the construction ... More Information

Brazil's US$1bn underwater tunnel project making waves among potential bidders

The first underwater road tunnel project in Brazil is attracting interest from multiple potential bidders, an official familiar with the matter ... More Information

Element Six and Master Drilling Announce Strategic Partnership for Advanced Tunnel

Achieving high quality, nonexplosive tunnel construction with various aspects of value generated compared to traditional rock excavation methods is a ... More Information

Tutor Perini Wins a $1.2 Billion NYC Contract

A joint venture of Sylmar-based civil construction firm Tutor Perini Corp. and its subsidiary Frontier-Kemper Constructors has won a $1.18 billion contract to construct a pair of rail ... More Information

Milestone reached for $1.6b Auckland wastewater tunne

Watercare's Central Interceptor project has passed an historic milestone with the southern half of the 16.2 kilometre tunnel – Blockhouse Bay ... More Information

Elon Musk's 'Wormhole' Tunnel Promises To Carry 20,000 People Per Hour In Dubai

It’s been more than eight years since Elon Musk decided he was fed up with traffic and declared he’d start digging tunnels to revolutionize public transport across the United States. So ... More Information

First tender for Dubai’s $22bn tunnels due within days

Dubai Municipality is expected to tender the first two packages of the $22bn Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnels (DSST) project imminently... More Information

London's Thames Tideway Tunnel now fully connected

After 10 years of construction work, the last of the 21 connections of the Thames Tideway Tunnel was made to the city's Victorian sewage system. More Information

Silvertown Tunnel

Silvertown Tunnel is the Transport for London project looking to forge a brand-new connection between Silvertown and the Greenwich Peninsula... More Information

Dubai Loop: Elon Musk to Build Huge Underground Road Network

Musk's The Boring Company, which is responsible for building a similar project in Las Vegas, aims to create 17 kilometers of tunnel capable of ... More Information

Wisconsin approves $4.5m tunnel lighting project

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has approved a $4.5m lighting systems upgrade project in various tunnels in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. More Information

$1.18bn Manhattan Tunnel contract awarded as part of $16bn Hudson Tunnel Project

The Hudson Tunnel Project is the key section of the Gateway Programme, which is a comprehensive rail infrastructure investment aimed at boosting ... More Information

North East Link continues to forge ahead towards completion

Tunnelling will soon commence on Victoria's longest twin road tunnels – the North East Link tunnels – as two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are ... More Information

Africa's huge £8.5m tunnel cuts up to 26 minutes off journeys to major capital city

The tunnel is to be constructed within the next three years. This project will not only create 500 jobs in the construction ... More Information

CMRL's tunnel boring machine from Panagal Park reaches Kodambakkam station after a year

Chennai Metro Rail's Phase II Project faces delays as tunnel boring machines 'Pelican' and 'Peacock' progress towards Kodambakkam... More Information

$800-million twin-tube tunnel, longest in the Philippines, nears 'breakthrough'

A senior agency official stated on Thursday that the tunneling phase of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project will achieve a long-awaited ... More Information

The World’s Largest Immersed Tunnel Is Being Built—And It’s Done Without a Tunnel Boring Machine

When we think about groundbreaking advancements, our minds often jump to cutting-edge technology like smartphones or supercomputers. But some of the most awe-inspiring innovations are ... More Information

Brenner Base TBM enters 'highly fractured' fault zone

A tunnel boring machine (TBM) working on the northernmost active construction lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel project has entered a “highly ... More Information

India building a historic Undersea Tunnel for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

He stated, "All high-quality safety norms have been adopted in the construction of this India's first carefully designed undersea tunnel project." The ... More Information

Norway's Incredible Ship Tunnel Plan Is Back On Track

Despite pandemic-related and planning delays to the project, the Norwegian Coastal Administration is pressing ahead with plans to build the world's ... More Information