News on HS2 in Kilburn & Northolt

The contract to supply the first two giant tunnelling machines for our London tunnels has been awarded, marking significant progress on the southern stretch of HS2. The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are being built by world-leading manufacturer Herrenknecht, and are designed and manufactured specifically for the London clay and chalk ground conditions they will bore through. They will be on site by the end of 2021.

The tunnelling programme between central London and the M25 will be carried out by our main works contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG JV. They will begin just outside Euston station and be underground until they emerge in West London at Old Oak Common station. The route will continue underground from Old Oak Common to the outskirts of West London.

These first two London TBMs will be launched from a portal at West Ruislip and will travel 5 miles east, creating the western section of the Northolt Tunnel. Once they arrive at Green Park Way in Greenford the machines will be brought to the surface and the site used as a vent shaft. The 8.4 mile tunnel will be completed with a 3.4 mile tunnel drive from Old Oak Common using another two new TBMs. A second tunnel between Euston and Old Oak Common will complete the remaining 4.5 miles of tunnelling between the two stations.

The tunnels will be twin-bored and 13 miles each way, and with a combined total of 26 miles, they will be the same length as Crossrail. Overall we will buy 10 TBMs in order to construct the 64 miles of tunnelling along the HS2 route between the West Midlands and London.

The first new TBMs will arrive by sea before being delivered to site at the end of 2021. Once assembled, they will enter service from mid-2022 and operate until the beginning of 2024.

Key facts about these giant machines :

Earlier this year, HS2 revealed images of two TBMs that have been made to construct the tunnels through the Chilterns. The names of the machines were suggested by local schoolchildren and subject to a public vote with Florence and Cecilia being the chosen names . The process for naming the first two London tunnelling machined will be revealed in due course.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .