The first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), launched almost 3 years ago, broke through under the Chilterns recently, having excavated the longest tunnel on HS2 at 16km. TBM Florence is one of 10 machines excavating the 32 miles of tunnel on the new railway linking London Euston with Birmingham and was Read more…
HS2’s third tunnel boring machine (TBM) has now been launched and will bore 3.4 miles under Ealing from Victoria Road Crossover Box, near HS2’s new Old Oak Common station, to Greenpark Way in Greenford. London Tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture, assembled the TBM underground at the Victoria Road Read more…
HS2 has moved the first huge viaduct section into place over the motorway network in North Warwickshire, a milestone for the project’s Delta Junction as HS2 reaches peak construction in the region. Contractors have used a specialist push-pull technique to move the 84 metre, 300 tonne steel viaduct section into place Read more…
HS2’s civils contractors have doubled their total spend with SMEs – companies with 250 or fewer employees – in 2022/23 when compared to the previous financial year. Small and medium sized businesses account for over 70% of HS2’s supply chain and this year shared in the £942m spend, which is Read more…
We spoke to Lily Robinson, an Apprentice Civil Engineer at Arcadis, who has recently joined our High Speed Rail Apprentice Network. Can you describe your role in a few words? As an engineer, I get to do technical engineering, project management and commercial work. I get to work with a Read more…
Sarah Curlett is a Level 3 Rail Engineering Apprentice with Alstom, and has recently joined the High Speed Rail Group’s Apprentice Network. Can you describe your role in a few words? I am a mechanical and electrical fitter, which means that I move around the depot working on different things Read more…
In partnership with West Coast Partnership Development – we hosted our first ever all-female apprentice event – to coincide with this year’s National Apprenticeship Week. Taking place at Alstom’s Crewe works, the event focussed around equipping the next generation of women in rail with skills for life. In addition to Read more…
Following the government’s decision to formally lifting the safeguarding directions for High Speed 2 (HS2) Phase 2a (between the West Midlands and Crewe), we have released the following statement: Today’s decision to remove the safeguarding of Phase 2a land from Birmingham-Crewe is a mistake. Our research shows that if the land Read more…
The Edgcote Viaduct has had its carbon footprint cut by more than 13% in comparison to the previous design. The viaduct is set low into the landscape of west Northamptonshire, and at 515m-long will carry trains across the floodplain of the River Cherwell, south of Chipping Warden. It is one Read more…
A team of 90 specialist engineers has completed the assembly of HS2’s giant tunnel boring machine (TBM) which will dig the second bore of the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel into Birmingham. In an assembly operation to move sections of the machine into a 12-metre deep launch pit, two 600 tonne Read more…