HS2's Elizabeth TBM completes Birmingham tunnels, a major engineering feat

I had the incredible opportunity to witness the breakthrough of Elizabeth, the 125-metre-long Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), at Washwood Heath marking the completion of HS2’s Birmingham approach tunnels and the full 28 miles of deep-bore tunnelling between London and the West Midlands. Launched from Water Orton in March 2024, Elizabeth and her sister TBM Mary Ann have successfully completed the twin 3.5-mile Bromford tunnels beneath the M6 and the eastern outskirts of Birmingham. Together, these engineering giants excavated over 1.8 million tonnes of material and installed 5,804 concrete ring segments, with the excavated spoil helping to shape the new railway’s landscape. During this year-and-a-half-long journey, the team navigated under major infrastructure including the M6 motorway, National Grid assets, and the River Tame at depths of up to 40 metres. The scale of coordination, engineering precision, and teamwork behind this success truly showcases what the UK infrastructure sector can achieve. An extraordinary milestone in modern tunnelling and a proud moment to witness first-hand. #HS2 #HighSpeedRail #UKInfrastructure #Engineering #Tunnelling #Teamwork #Birmingham #CivilEngineering #InfrastructureDevelopment

🚨 HS2 Mega Machine Breaks Through in Birmingham 🚨 After 19 months underground, TBM Elizabeth has smashed through at Washwood Heath, completing the final leg of HS2’s 28-mile deep bore tunnel between London and Birmingham! 🛤️💥 🔹 1.8 million tonnes excavated. 5,804 concrete rings installed. A new era of UK rail is on the horizon. 🏗️🇬🇧 Read the full story on this engineering milestone and what it means for the future of high-speed travel in the UK. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eJTQq6-V HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd Balfour Beatty VINCI #HS2 #Infrastructure #Engineering #Tunnelling #RailwayConstruction #UKRail #BBV #HighSpeedRail #CivilEngineering #ConstructionNews #FutureOfTransport

This week's breakthrough of tunnel boring machine Elizabeth at Washwood Heath marks a defining moment in the construction of HS2. With this achievement, all 28 miles of deep-bore tunnels between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street are now fully excavated - which is a testament to the dedication and innovation of the engineers, designers, and suppliers involved. Construction teams will now focus on internal walkways, ventilation shafts, and cross passages as the project moves toward the next phase. As an organisation that represents the wider rail and infrastructure sector, milestones like this underline the expertise and resilience within the supply chain, and help us to promote the long-term economic, environmental, and connectivity benefits this national investment will deliver. #FutureOfRail #HighSpeedRail #UKInfrastructure #HSRG #HighSpeedRailGroup #SustainableTransport #rail #railway #infrastructure #railinvestment #tunnels #tunnelboringmachine #TBM #highcapacityrail

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

PROPOSED EXPRESS RAIL ALTERNATIVE TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT CORRIDOR NORTH OF SYDNEY The attached sketch illustrates a proposed electrified bypass (branch) alignment of the North Line from the country side of Cowan to Tascot, forming Stage 1 of an alternative to the High Speed Rail (HSR) project. Stage 2 would complete an upgrading (including electrification) of tracks from two to four from Hornsby to Newcastle. For clarity the Stage 1 viaduct/underbridge/twin tunnels would have two tracks only which when added to the existing two sum to four in total. Some of the Metropolitan Rail Network changes proposed by the author in prior posts are compatible with and enhance this proposal. Advantages of this proposal include that the scope of works is envisaged to be significantly less than HSR with associated lower capital and operating expenditure, and, the flexibility to run both freight (electric locomotives hauled) and passenger services. The existing corridor via Woy Woy would remain operational and would continue to be available for electric or diesel fueled freight and or passenger fleet. Foundations related risks associated with the viaduct and the new Hawkesbury River under under bridge are lessened from knowledge of the investigations performed for adjacent roads and bridges. Significantly reduced extent of TBM twin tunnels, and, a corridor in areas likely to be more uniform in geology; are likely to reduce geotechnical risk and provide higher certainty in the accuracy of cost estimation. Stage 2 works will be performed in the existing corridor which appear to have been future proofed to allow for duplication of tracks. Lower specification passenger fleet would also significantly reduce the Total Outturn Cost. Availability of the two alternative paths (express or via Woy Woy, compared to the one existing) would enable the maximising of timetabling paths. Extra flexibility would be available for weekend possessions on either corridor, and, in the management of incidents. Naturally these assertions are subject to electric fleet compatibility with OHW power supply infrastructure actually adopted if the project is delivered. #Rail #Infrastructure #Transport #ElectrificationOfTransport #MassTransit #CentralCoast #FastRail #Engineering #NationalProductivity #RailProjects #ProductivityInitiatives #EnergyTransition #FreightRail #PassengerRail #Bridges #Tunnels #Sustainability #ValueForMoneyInfrastructure #Sydney #Newcastle #IncreasingNetworkCapacity #Construction #MegaProject

HS2 has reached a major milestone as TBM Elizabeth broke through in Birmingham, completing the final deep-bore tunnel with Balfour Beatty VINCI. Alan Morris, construction delivery director at HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd, and Jules ARLAUD, tunnelling director at BBV, praised the teams’ round-the-clock effort on the 3.5-mile Bromford tunnel. 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/enAuYukr #HS2 #BalfourBeattyVINCI #tunnelling #infrastructure #concrete #UKconstruction 📩 Want to keep updated with the latest industry news? Sign up for the Concrete Connect newsletter 👉 https://lnkd.in/eeZarUnA

Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have approved the largest tunneling contract in the agency’s history for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway — a $1.972 billion contract awarded to Connect Plus Partners (Halmar International + FCC Construcción). The project will extend the Q train from 96 Street to 125 Street, delivering long-awaited transit access to East Harlem residents. 🔹 Project Highlights: ‣ Crews will bore a new tunnel between 116 Street and 125 Street, using 750-ton machines with 22-foot diamond-studded drill heads ‣ Work includes excavation for the future 125 Street Station and cost-saving outfitting of a 1970s-built tunnel segment for the 116 Street Station, reducing costs by $500M ‣ Phase 2 is on schedule and on budget, with a $6.99B budget funded in part by the Congestion Relief Zone tolling program, and a projected revenue service date of September 2032 💬 Janno Lieber, Chair & CEO, MTA: “Locals have waited almost 100 long years for their promised subway extension. Thanks to investments from Governor Hochul and our partners in Washington ... the new MTA is moving forward with the largest tunneling contract in agency history — but more important, with a project that pencils at the lowest cost per rider of any heavy rail project in America.” 🔗 Read the full story: [https://lnkd.in/gMdqCNnB] #SecondAvenueSubway #MTA #EastHarlem #TransitInfrastructure #HeavyCivilConstruction #NYCConstruction #SubwayExpansion

🚄 Marcon Place Underbridge, Hackney Downs 🚄 ABM Precast Solutions supplied 18 precast units for the rapid rebuild of Marcon Place Underbridge, delivered in just 100 hours for Network Rail Anglia and Octavius Infrastructure. The project was ‘Highly Commended’ at the Network Rail Partnership Awards and now supports four tracks and platforms, minimising disruption and strengthening this vital rail corridor. Great teamwork and engineering all round! #RailInfrastructure #PrecastConcrete #BridgeReplacement #NetworkRail #EngineeringExcellence #TeamWork #ABMPrecastSolutions https://lnkd.in/eTCEEyp4

The first of three tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will construct the T2D tunnels is now on its way to South Australia after successfully completing factory acceptance testing in China. Two of the TBMs will be launched from Clovelly Park, while the third will begin its journey from the Central North Precinct at Richmond. Excavation of the Southern Tunnels is set to begin in the second half of 2026. #Tunnel #Infrastructure #SA https://lnkd.in/gk-SvtJc

How do you move the world’s oldest in-situ cast-iron railway bridge? 🤔   The answer is very carefully – and that’s exactly what our TRU East Alliance colleagues did over the weekend!   Our teams constructed a bespoke arched framework to support the 191-year-old Crawshaw Woods Bridge near Leeds, before slowly manoeuvring the Grade II-listed structure in one piece using a specialist 128-wheel self-propelled modular vehicle.   Following the successful movement of the bridge, the railway line was restored and re-opened to trains on schedule on the Monday morning.   The cast iron arched girders, bridge deck, parapets, and original iron railings will now be repaired and renovated off-site while additional layers of stone are added to the bridge’s abutments to raise its height by 1.5 metres.   This will create room for us to electrify the Transpennine main line between York, Leeds and Manchester, allowing faster, greener and quieter electric trains to run. ⚡   Once complete, the restored structure will be carefully reinstated in Spring 2026, preserving its character while making space for a modern, electrified railway.    A massive well done to everyone involved in completing this delicate operation safely and efficiently. 👏 #TranspennineRouteUpgrade #TRU #OnTrackToBetter Network Rail Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom Murphy Siemens SYSTRA VolkerRail Ltd