HS2 has completed excavation on the 8.4-mile-long Northolt Tunnel under London in what will be a major artery for the upcoming rail route.
Construction on HS2’s second-longest tunnel started in October 2022 and will eventually take trains between West Ruislip on the outer edge of the capital and the new Old Oak Common super-hub station in west London.
A tunnel-boring machine (TBM) named Anne finally completed its work yesterday after 14 months of digging and installed the last concrete ring underground before emerging into a vent shaft at Green Park Way in Greenford. Anne will be lifted out of the shaft later this year.
Four machines of similar stature were used to build the tunnel that lies about 35 metres below ground at its deepest point. Two were used to build the five-mile western section from West Ruislip station while the other two built the 3.4-mile eastern section from Victoria Road in North Acton.
The third TBM, Emily, finished its bore earlier this month and will be lifted out...