HS2 tunnelling work to major station set to begin next week | UK | News
Construction work on a major HS2 link will start next week. Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs), named Madeleine and Karen, will launch from the eastern end of Old Oak Common Station and head towards Euston Cave, with the first TBM, Madeleine, expected to begin the journey in the week commencing January 26.
The second CPC is expected to arrive in Karen a month later; Engineers expect the TBMs to progress up to 150 meters per week, eventually reaching Euston in late June 2027.
The Euston tunnel will carry high-speed trains between Old Oak Common and Euston station, and the twin tunnels will reach depths of 35 to 50 meters underground. New Civil Engineer.
When the two TBMs’ journey ends, the external castings will remain part of the tunnel structure, while the mechanical components will be dismantled and removed.
The route to Euston involves the conversion of sprayed concrete lined tunnels into three additional tunnels to facilitate train movement into the station.
The construction of cross passages between parallel tunnels is also expected to be included in the work; HS2 warns local residents that they may hear ground noise as TBMs pass or crossovers are excavated.
However, updates will be provided.
It is hoped that the extension to Euston will improve commuter access to central London and the service capacity of the new high-speed line. The expansion is also expected to create transport-focused regeneration in the area and pave the way for thousands of new homes and employment opportunities.
Project partners also confirmed to Construction News they will continue to use rail rather than road to remove construction debris from the Euston site when tunneling and stations resume.
HS2 proposed a two-stage approach to disrupting transport; The first phase uses existing railway infrastructure and the second phase involves the installation of a new railway head.
HS2 told a Treasury official that approval was required for the first phase by the end of the financial year, and an HS2 spokesman said the Government had now approved that phase.
