British Tunnelling Society

BTS NOVEMBER LECTURE The November British Tunnelling Society lecture will focus on 'Carbon management for metro projects' 📅 Thursday 20th November 2025 at 18:00 hrs [UTC+1] 🗺️ Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), One Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA Speakers: 🗣️ Alun Thomas - Carbon Manager, Metroselskabet 🗣️ Jon Banyai - Team Leader for Innovation, Metroselskabet The Copenhagen Metro has an ambition to reduce the carbon footprint of new constructions by 50%. The baseline is set as “a current design approach in which there is no consideration of carbon” and this is defined by the most recently opened lines in 2019 and 2024. To achieve this, they are applying a process of active carbon management in the design of the new lines - M5 and the extension of M4 - and in other minor construction works that are ongoing. This presentation will outline the current status of the largest project - M5 - and describe how our innovation programme and carbon management have delivered significant improvements to the carbon footprint. Refreshments will be available in the bar afterwards with food and drinks sponsored by Ramboll This lecture will also be streamed live. Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

DUBLIN AIRPORT TUNNEL CONTRACT AWARDED A SACYR UK & IRELAND and Wills Bros Group joint venture has won the contract to build Dublin Airport’s new West Apron Vehicle Underpass. Dublin Airport operator DAA awarded the €265m contract under an Airfield and Landside Civil Works Framework (Lot 2) agreement. The project, which is scheduled for completion by August 2030, involves the construction of a 1.1km twin-cell tunnel connecting Pier 3 at Dublin Airport to the West Apron. The tunnel will pass beneath key operational areas including the Cross Runway (16/34) at Dublin Airport and four taxiways. The underpass will provide a dedicated, segregated route for airside vehicles – such as cargo operators, fuel bowsers, tugs, loaders, steps, and catering trucks – between the remote West Apron and the Eastern Campus, where most airport services and facilities are located. The twin-cell design ensures operational resilience, allowing one lane to remain open in the event of maintenance or an incident in the other. The project also includes the reconfiguration of 23,700m2 of the airport to accommodate layout changes and associated infrastructure works. Read more online: https://lnkd.in/evbKKfzK Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

OCTOBER EDITION OF TUNNELS & TUNNELLING INTERNATIONAL   We are pleased to share below a pared-down version of the October 2025 edition of the official British Tunnelling Society publication - Tunnels and Tunnelling International.    The edition features a special focus on hydro tunnels. The edition features at the use and applicability of TBMs for constructing headrace tunnels in Himalayan hydropower projects with insight from Dean Brox. T&T editor Patrick Reynolds also takes a look at how Sweden is advancing the development of its underground storage complex at Forsmark by starting to extend its vault for short-lived radioactive waste and preparing to undertake major excavations even deeper that will hold spent nuclear fuel. We also mark the 200 year anniversary of the shaft sinking for the Thames Tunnel by Brunel. Finally Rod Young offers a preview of the benefits and opportunities of attending the vital British Tunnelling Society H&S course taking place in London in mid-November. See it here: https://lnkd.in/e4wdKEsi Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

JAMES CLARK MEDAL LUNCH & OCTOBER LECTURE It was a please to host James Clark Medal Winners, British Tunnelling Society Committee Members and Past BTS Chairs at the annual James Clark Medal Lunch at Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), One Great George Street, yesterday. The lunch was followed by our October Lecture, delivered jointly with British Geotechnical Association. Thanks are in order to Martyn Noak and Mark Lemmon BSc MSc CEng MICE RoGEP for their presentation which provided the Client's perspective of the tunnelling works on HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd. Thanks are in order to EDP (Jacobs.AtkinsRéalis.Sener) for sponsoring the post-lecture refreshments, and to CK-Tech for sponsoring the bar tab extension. Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

JAMES CLARK MEDAL LUNCH & OCTOBER LECTURE It was a please to host James Clark Medal Winners, British Tunnelling Society Committee Members and Past BTS Chairs at the annual James Clark Medal Lunch at Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), One Great George Street, yesterday. The lunch was followed by our October Lecture, delivered jointly with British Geotechnical Association. Thanks are in order to Martyn Noak and Mark Lemmon BSc MSc CEng MICE RoGEP for their presentation which provided the Client's perspective of the tunnelling works on HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd. Thanks are in order to EDP (Jacobs.AtkinsRéalis.Sener) for sponsoring the post-lecture refreshments, and to CK-Tech for sponsoring the bar tab extension. Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

HS2 CELEBRATES FINAL BIRMINGHAM TUNNEL BREAKTHROUGH Breakthrough was made on HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd’s Birmingham approach tunnels this week, marking the completion of major tunnel excavation between London’s Old Oak Common and the West Midlands. The 125m-long TBM Elizabeth, named after the 19th century philanthropist Elizabeth Cadbury, was launched near the Warwickshire village of Water Orton in March 2024. It finished its journey at Washwood Heath. Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) used two Herrenknecht AG TBMs to dig the 5.6km-long Bromford tunnel that will carry high-speed trains under the M6 and eastern outskirts of the city. TBM Mary Ann broke through in May this year. Together, Elizabeth and Mary Ann excavated more than 1.8 million tonnes of material and installed 5,804 concrete ring segments for the twin, eastbound and westbound tunnels. The spoil – made up of various grades of Mercia Mudstone – is being used to landscape the railway on the approaches to the city. Read more online: https://lnkd.in/ehdS3Cba Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

The British Tunnelling Society is proud to continue supporting global collaboration between the ITA-AITES, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and international radioactive waste management programmes through the newly established Special Interest Group (SIG) on Geological Disposal Facilities (GDFs), chaired by Professor Arnold Dix. Daniel Garbutt, UK Member Nation Representative to the ITA, ITA Representative to the IAEA, and Steering Board Member for the ITA SIG on GDFs, shared his thoughts:   💬 “The safe, long-term disposal of nuclear waste is a vital challenge for our global community. Now is the time to strengthen collaboration between the GDF community and the wider underground engineering community. The ITA provides the perfect platform for this relationship to grow.” He added: 💬 “Having supported the IAEA for several years on radioactive waste disposal, we saw a great opportunity to bridge the gap between organisations and unite two like-minded communities — both committed to helping member states achieve the safe, long-term disposal of radioactive waste.” Collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise will be key to ensuring a safer future for all. Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU  #Sustainability #NuclearSafety #GeologicalDisposal

BTS OCTOBER LECTURE - THIS THURSDAY (16 OCTOBER) Adding to the recent news about the final TBM breakthrough at Balfour Beatty VINCI, the October British Tunnelling Society lecture will be delivered jointly with the British Geotechnical Association, and will focus on '𝗛𝗦𝟮 𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲' 📅 Thursday 16th October 2025 at 18:00 hrs [UTC+1] 🗺️ Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), One Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA Speakers: 🗣️ Martyn Noak - Head of Ground Engineering and Tunnels, HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd 🗣️ Mark Lemmon BSc MSc CEng MICE RoGEP - Lead Tunnel Engineer, HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd Britain’s new high-speed line, HS2, is a vital investment in Britain’s economic future and the foundation of a modern rail system. It will play a key role in renewing our railways, making services reliable and putting passengers first. With a journey time of just 49 minutes, the railway will bring the UK’s two biggest cities, London and Birmingham much closer together. The 225km route includes 44km of twin bore TBM driven tunnel and 7.2km of cut and cover tunnel comprising 19% of the route. With tunnelling approaching 75% complete and major civil engineering works in full swing across the project, join our speakers from HS2’s Tunnel Engineering team as they: ·        Describe tunnelling works to date and the challenges faced ·        Discuss the geology and the unique issues arising ·        Reflect on preliminary TBM performance figures ·        Look to the future and the remaining tunnelling works yet to commence Refreshments will be available in the bar afterwards with food and drinks sponsored by EDP [Jacobs.AtkinsRéalis.Sener] This lecture will also be streamed live at: https://lnkd.in/dTKTvGuy Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

HS2 GREEN TUNNEL MARKS MILESTONE AFTER PRODUCTIVITY ISSUES Changes to construction processes were trialled on a test tunnel. A milestone has been marked on construction of one of HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd’s longest cut-and-cover tunnels with the opening of a realigned road over the structure near Chipping Warden in Northamptonshire. Set to extend 2.5km, the shallow green tunnel is being built inside a cutting. A short section of the A361, which runs from Banbury to Daventry, was closed for 11 days to allow the carriageway to be realigned over the top of the first section of the tunnel. The reopening of the road last week means HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd’s contractors can now begin work on the section that will link the two parts of the tunnel built so far. Assembled from precast concrete segments, the tunnel is an ‘M’ shape, with separate halves for northbound and southbound trains. Follow the British Tunnelling Society for the latest insight on tunnel-related matters To learn about the benefits of joining the British Tunnelling Society click here: https://bit.ly/3r0MPoU

BTSYM CONFERENCE 2025 - 2 WEEKS REMAINING - FREE FOR BTSYM MEMBERS Bookings are still open for the British Tunnelling Society Young Members Conference 2025! The conference is FREE for BTSYM Members (existing and new), and only £65 for non-members. Join us on Friday 24th October at Arup's London offices for a full day dedicated to exploring how tunnelling is evolving, not just through cutting-edge innovation, but by driving inclusive practices and delivering meaningful impact across the industry. Programme available at: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dWpB9zNk To book your place, visit: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/enc-U9Et Visit the BTS Website to become a BTSYM Member and avail the FREE ticket 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dx2WEpGZ A huge thank you to our sponsors – Arup, Bekaert, Dr. Sauer & Partners, Mott MacDonald, Tunnelling Journal, Excalibur and Ayesa.