HS2 TBM Progress

[LNW-GW Joint]

Not bad - presumably there was a pause or at least slowdown over Easter?

It's always hard to judge that one, but it's more likely now they are in capped cost mode.
No update from the other TBMs, and "Elizabeth" is not yet even on the map at Bromford despite starting a month ago (March 5).
"Anne" was supposed to start at Victoria Road in "March" too, but there's been no announcement.

Edit Apr 8:
The Northolt East TBMs have been updated today.
Emily is still at 176m (not moved since March 25).
Anne has its first report at 15m, after being launched in "March", and its graphic is now on the map.
If the graphics are in the right position, Emily is boring the south/west bore (ie the Down tunnel), and Anne is boring the north/east tunnel (the Up tunnel).
Ignoring the Euston tunnels, all the Phase 1 TBMs are now operational, though we still need a first position for Elizabeth at Bromford.

 

[chris2]

HS2 announcement launch of Anne 4th TBM in London

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

HS2 announcement launch of Anne 4th TBM in London

But with no specific date quoted, just "March".

Update today for Mary Ann at Bromford, at 1980m, or +4m in 15 days since March 25, which does suggest a break over Easter.
Still no sign of Elizabeth on the map graphic.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

An update today from the Northolt West TBMs (Apr 5-16):
Shushila is at 4717m (+171m), Caroline at 4379m (+73m).
So it's Shushila's turn to forge ahead, and Caroline's to slow down a bit.
Both of them are now close to adjacent residential property on the surface.

Edit Apr 22:
The recently-launched Northolt East TBMs have been updated today (17 days from Apr 5):
Emily is at 205m (+19m), Anne is at 53m (+18m).
These represent progress of about 2m/day, in what must be difficult early conditions.
The overhead videos of the Victoria Road shaft show some really complex engineering for removal of the spoil up to the surface conveyor system.
Emily is now located below the ex-GWR OOC-Northolt line, which it will follow to the Greenford Way shaft.

Northolt West TBMs were also updated later today (6 days from Apr 16):
Shushila is at 4740m (+23m), Caroline at 4399m (+20m).
These show very modest progress of 3-4m/day.

 

[absolutelymilk]

A load of TBMs have updated with minimal progress, e.g. Sushila (Northolt Tunnel West) +23m in 6 days

 

[cuemaster]

Some news regarding works above ground near current Northholt West tunnelling.. which may have impacted progress in recent weeks.

The Farmlands Estate borehole decommissioning - HS2

What we are doing We recently wrote to you at the beginning of April about starting works between 15 and 26 April 2024, to remove an existing borehole. Getting the necessary third-party consent and approvals delayed the start of these works. We apologise for the delay in completing these works...

www.hs2.org.uk

What we are doing​

What we are doing
We recently wrote to you at the beginning of April about starting works between 15 and 26 April 2024, to remove an existing borehole. Getting the necessary third-party consent and approvals delayed the start of these works. We apologise for the delay in completing these works and any inconvenience this may have caused.

These works will now be completed between 29 April and 17 May 2024. Once this is completed, we will then fill in the borehole.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Better progress figures from the Northolt East TBMs today, only 4 days after the last update.
Emily is at 291m (+86m), Anne at 87m (+34m).
They seem to be picking up speed now.
One thing that seems to elude HS2 Ltd is a regular TBM progress update at the same date across the piece.

 

[Benjwri]

One thing that seems to elude HS2 Ltd is a regular TBM progress update at the same date across the piece.

Not really surprising though given they are run by different Joint Ventures, and syncing TMB updates to the public is fairly low on the list of priorities.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Not really surprising though given they are run by different Joint Ventures, and syncing TMB updates to the public is fairly low on the list of priorities.

On the contrary, HS2 needs all the positive PR it can get with news and progress updates,.
I'm sure their paymasters need it, not to mention us taxpayers.

Good news from Bromford today.
Mary Ann is at 2148m (+168m since April 9), and new TBM Elizabeth (launched March 5) is now on the graph at 120m.

In your area map - HS2

Search our interactive In Your Area Map to find information about current or planned HS2 construction works taking place across the route.

www.hs2.org.uk

So all 6 remaining TBMs are now at work, with the potential of chewing away an aggregate of 100m of tunnel a day between them.
At present rates of progress of 7-8m/day, 3 of the TBMs should complete in Q1 next year, with the 3 recently started finishing up to a year later.
That excludes the Euston tunnels from OOC, whose future is yet to be decided.

 

[Benjwri]

On the contrary, HS2 needs all the positive PR it can get with news and progress updates,.
I'm sure their paymasters need it, not to mention us taxpayers.

I agree that updating the public is important, and updating the maps regularly is relatively important, however updating every TBM at the same time is far less important, and doesn’t really justify the effort. I’m not sure if it’s updated by the JVs or HS2, but either way it’s far better to update the information whenever it’s available rather than delay publication so the others can be published at the same time.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I agree that updating the public is important, and updating the maps regularly is relatively important, however updating every TBM at the same time is far less important, and doesn’t really justify the effort. I’m not sure if it’s updated by the JVs or HS2, but either way it’s far better to update the information whenever it’s available rather than delay publication so the others can be published at the same time.

I'd like to think that, in the 21st century, there is an HS2 office somewhere with a big screen showing the real-time positions of its laser-measured TBMs, for a snapshot to be taken at any time...
After all, it's where a torrent of public cash is being spent.

 

[Benjwri]

I'd like to think that, in the 21st century, there is an HS2 office somewhere with a big screen showing the real-time positions of its laser-measured TBMs, for a snapshot to be taken at any time...
After all, it's where a torrent of public cash is being spent.

Even the newest TBMs are not constantly connected to the internet, doing so would be a massively unnecessary waste of money. They will obviously have this data in the control room on the TBM, but anyone not on the TBM does not have live updates on the location of it.

 

[Geogregor]

Even the newest TBMs are not constantly connected to the internet, doing so would be a massively unnecessary waste of money. They will obviously have this data in the control room on the TBM, but anyone not on the TBM does not have live updates on the location of it.

Maybe they don't have live and up to the centimeter location but I would hazard a guess that they do have daily updates on TBM progress. Seems like basic piece of data.

 

[Benjwri]

Maybe they don't have live and up to the centimeter location but I would hazard a guess that they do have daily updates on TBM progress. Seems like basic piece of data.

Yes the updates are more frequent than the website, but again what is the point of updates at any more than weekly frequency? It’s a small amount of time, but it’s still another thing that someone has to do, which has to be paid for. Is that a justifiable cost?

 

[Mojo]

Does anyone know what the issue with the siding at West Ruislip being taken out of commission is? It’s been closed at least a week now with HS2 saying some kind of “safety audit” is needed. A letter from the council (who have increased the permitted hours of road deliveries) to residents implies that some sort of incident may have taken place. The stockpile of tunnel linings has run low and they are now having to be delivered by road again.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Another update from Northolt West (3 May, 12 days since 22 April):
Shushila is at 4903m (+163m), Caroline at 4560m (+161m).
Both of these TBMs are doing close to 15m/day.
Whatever the problems with segment delivery by rail to West Ruislip, it doesn't seem to be affecting tunnelling progress.

Edit May 7:
An update for Northolt East (11 days since April 26):
Emily is at 347m (+56m), Anne at 90m (+3m).
Modest progress for Emily (5m/day); Anne still seemingly in startup mode.

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has issued new update video 9th May 2024

It confirms over half of HS2 tunnelling is now bored

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

HS2 has issued new update video 9th May 2024
It confirms over half of HS2 tunnelling is now bored

Did he really mean to say Heathrow will be 10 minutes away on Heathrow Express?
I'm not sure I've heard that before.
It will mean an extension of journey time for Paddington-Heathrow HEx passengers.

 

[Trainbike46]

Did he really mean to say Heathrow will be 10 minutes away on Heathrow Express?
I'm not sure I've heard that before.
It will mean an extension of journey time for Paddington-Heathrow HEx passengers.

Everything else will stop, why not HEx?

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Did he really mean to say Heathrow will be 10 minutes away on Heathrow Express?
I'm not sure I've heard that before.
It will mean an extension of journey time for Paddington-Heathrow HEx passengers.

A couple of minutes won't affect customer loading. Heathrow Express would be crazy not to call at Old Oak - I imagine it will be a fairly popular interchange from the Northern cities to reach Heathrow. I'd anticipate HS2 + Heathrow Express through ticketing to be fairly prominent.

 

[swt_passenger]

Old Oak Common calls in Heathrow Express for HS2 interchange must surely be seen as the direct replacement for the original idea of an HS2 Heathrow Spur.

 

[Bald Rick]

Did he really mean to say Heathrow will be 10 minutes away on Heathrow Express?
I'm not sure I've heard that before.
It will mean an extension of journey time for Paddington-Heathrow HEx passengers.

yes it has aleays been the plan.

 

[Snow1964]

Reported that the two TBMs for the Old Oak to Euston drives are due to be shipped to UK soon, ahead of starting tunnelling in 2025.

TBMs will be delivered to UK ahead of job beginning in 2025 as funding looks set to be freed up now local elections have wrapped up
The tunnel boring machines needed to start tunnelling work from Old Oak Common station to the mothballed Euston station are expected to be delivered to the UK in the coming weeks.
The equipment has been made in Germany and is undergoing its final trials before being shipped across to the HS2 site.
A team featuring Costain, Skanska and Austrian firm Strabag has begun work to tunnel the route from West Ruislip to Old Oak Common – which is where HS2 trains will terminate in the capital when the railway first opens.

Tunnelling machines for HS2 Euston to be shipped to site in weeks

TBMs will be delivered to UK ahead of job beginning in 2025 as funding looks set to be freed up now local elections have wrapped up

www.building.co.uk

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I think the HS2 Ltd funding for the Euston TBMs was/is agreed to the point where they are assembled ready to start from the box at OOC next year.
What's not yet agreed is the cost of boring the drives to the Euston portal, but the hints by Huw Merriman suggest that will come quite soon.
It's easy to be confused about the various funding scopes and limits since the initial pausing, and then the dead stop, of the Euston station job.
A similar situation exists at the other end of the line between the Delta junction and Handsacre.
Only starting up the Euston TBMs when the Northolt West tunnels have completed will keep the spend rate within bounds.

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 have issued a press release, 29 miles of the 54.8 miles (53%) have now been bored (a more accurate figure than yesterdays over half)

Graphic shows
Chiltern tunnels 10 miles 16km Florence 100% complete
Chiltern tunnel 10 miles 16km Cecilia 100% complete
Long Itchington 1 mile 1.6km Dorothy (both) 100% complete
Bromford tunnel 2.18miles 38% Mary Ann,
Bromford tunnel 0.08miles 2% Elizabeth
Northolt tunnel West 2.8miles 4.51km 56% Caroline
Northolt tunnel West 3.01miles 4.85km 60% Sushika
Northolt tunnel East 0.2miles 0.32km 6% Emily
Northolt tunnel East 0.05miles 0.08km 1% Anne
Euston tunnels not started

Completed tunnels:

• In March 2023, TBM ‘Dorothy’ completed its second drive of the one-mile Long Itchington Wood Tunnel in Warwickshire – the first tunnel to be completed on the project.
• Earlier this year, ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ completed both drives of the 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel – the longest tunnel on the route – with the second breakthrough witnessed in March.

On-track tunnels:

• In London, four TBMs are digging the 8.4-mile Northolt Tunnel. ‘Sushila’ and ‘Caroline’ have excavated around three miles of their five-mile route, travelling from West Ruislip on the outskirts of the capital to Green Park Way in Greenford, north-west London. Two more are building a 3.4-mile section of this tunnel in the opposite direction from Victoria Road in Ealing to Green Park Way. ‘Emily’ has completed 0.2 miles and ‘Anne’ has just set off.
• In the Midlands, ‘Mary Ann’ is 1.3 miles into the 3.5-mile drive of the first bore of the Bromford Tunnel between Water Orton in North Warwickshire and Washwood Heath in Birmingham. ‘Elizabeth’ has just started to build the second bore.

Tunnel yet to start:

• Significant preparatory works have already been completed ahead of the formal start of the 4.5 mile Euston Tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston stations in London. The two TBMs are currently being manufactured and tested. The government is now exploring different funding mechanisms for delivery of the tunnel.

Key milestone for HS2 as half of tunnels completed

HS2 has completed 29 miles of the new railway’s bored tunnels between Birmingham and London Over 31,000 people now working on HS2 as the project hits peak construction View and download photos here and new TBM infographic here New video released showing latest progress on the high-speed line

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[PLY2AYS]

Did he really mean to say Heathrow will be 10 minutes away on Heathrow Express?
I'm not sure I've heard that before.
It will mean an extension of journey time for Paddington-Heathrow HEx passengers.

Why they never planned a spur for the already present and unused, extra station platforms at Heathrow baffles me.
It’s literally been future proofed to provide extra train capacity, it seems daft to deny passengers from Birmingham and beyond a more simple journey to Heathrow. No one wants to lug bags over a rail network with so many changes… classic oversight I think!

 

[themiller]

Why they never planned a spur for the already present and unused, extra station platforms at Heathrow baffles me.
It’s literally been future proofed to provide extra train capacity, it seems daft to deny passengers from Birmingham and beyond a more simple journey to Heathrow. No one wants to lug bags over a rail network with so many changes… classic oversight I think!

Is it anything to do with the original plan for HS2 trains to Birmingham to be built to a larger profile once the extensions north were completed (captive stock)? What gauge clearance would those platforms have been built to?

 

[stuu]

Why they never planned a spur for the already present and unused, extra station platforms at Heathrow baffles me.
It’s literally been future proofed to provide extra train capacity, it seems daft to deny passengers from Birmingham and beyond a more simple journey to Heathrow. No one wants to lug bags over a rail network with so many changes… classic oversight I think!

Because they realised early on that trains to only Heathrow wouldn't be anything like busy enough, if they were frequent enough to be worthwhile.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

A rapid update on the Northolt East TBMs today, for only 3 days (May 7-10):
Emily is at 442m (+95m), Anne at 99m (+9m).
So really good progress for Emily.

 

[Snow1964]

A rapid update on the Northolt East TBMs today, for only 3 days (May 7-10):
Emily is at 442m (+95m), Anne at 99m (+9m).
So really good progress for Emily.

That's good, it's total drive is 5.58km
So if continues running at same speed will finish in about years time

Wonder if there will be healthy competition between the TBM crew and those of Caroline and Sushila to move onto the two Euston TBMs