Latest Rail News

11.06.20

HS2 reveals first images of new tunnel launch site

HS2 have today revealed (June 11th) a selection of new images showing the current preparations for the arrival of the project’s first giant tunnelling machines, which will be launched from a site next to the M25 early next year.

The two 2,000 tonne machines, which are currently being manufactured in Germany, will dig the 10-mile-long Chiltern tunnels from the site next to the M25, to near South Heath in Buckinghamshire.

The new images show the excavation of the launch site and the start of work to build the concrete precast plant where more than 118,000 tunnel segments will be made.

The South Portal Chalfont site, which is the equivalent of 80 football pitches, will be the largest construction site on the project. From here, specialist teams will deliver the tunnelling and the construction of the adjacent Colne Valley Viaduct.

South Portal face 4

Dedicated motorway slip-roads have been put in place to link the site with the M25 and to take construction traffic off local roads.

Around 350 staff from HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV, a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, and its subcontractors, are now permanently based on site.

HS2 have said at peak, around 1200 people are anticipated to be employed in the design and construction of the Chiltern tunnels and the viaduct, with 50 opportunities for apprentices.

The ‘twin bore’ Chiltern tunnels will be the longest and deepest tunnel bores on route, with separate northbound and southbound tunnels and five ventilation shafts.

The tunnels will carry the state-of-the-art HS2 trains under the Chiltern hills on their way to Birmingham, Scotland and the north of England.

Just south of the tunnel portal, the Colne Valley Viaduct, designed by Align, working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, and the architect Grimshaw, will be the longest railway viaduct in the UK.

At 3.4km long, it will carry HS2 across the Grand Union Canal and surrounding lakes. Further south, the line will go into tunnel again before arriving at Old Oak Common and London Euston.

This new route will free up more space for local and freight services on the current mainline out of Euston and offer an environmentally friendly form of transport for long distance passengers.

HS2 Delivery Director, David Bennett, said: “The south portal site will have one of the most important parts to play in the story of HS2. From here we’ll manage the construction of the Chilterns tunnel and the iconic Colne Valley viaduct.

“It’s great to see how much progress has been made on site and I look forward to working with the team to deliver what will be two of the most exciting and ambitious engineering challenges on the project.”

TBM 1

Images: HS2

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