HS2 TBM Sushila removed following Northolt tunnel excavation

19/03/2025

Following its 8 km (5-mile) drive underneath the capital, HS2 lifted TBM Sushila out of the ground at the Green Park Way site in Greenford, West London.

The cutterhead, front and middle shield, weighting 850 t, were lifted from the vent shaft in one piece on Saturday, March 15, using a 750 t gantry crane. The TBM – with a cutterhead spanning 9.48 m in diameter – was launched from West Ruislip in October 2022 and completed its journey in December 2024. TBM Sushila excavated over 1.2 million tonnes of earth and installed 4,217 tunnel rings.

TBM Sushila was used to construct part of the Northolt Tunnel – an 13.5 km (8.4-mile) tunnel being built by four TBMs which will take HS2 trains from Old Oak Common Station to the outskirts of the capital. For further information please visit https://www.hs2.org.uk/ and the tunnelbuilder archive click here.12/25.