HS2 hits milestone as tunnel reaches halfway mark

Some 1.75 miles (2.8km) of tunnel has so far been built between Water Orton and Washwood Heath

Work to build an HS2 tunnel under Birmingham for the high-speed rail line has reached a key milestone.

A 1,600-tonne tunnel boring machine has made it halfway through its journey to build the 3.5 mile (5.6km) Bromford Tunnel between Water Orton and Washwood Heath.

Working about 40m (131ft) below the outskirts of the city, the machine has excavated under the Park Hall Nature Reserve and River Tame and is now passing under Castle Vale.

It will continue under the M6 before breaking through at Washwood Heath early next year, HS2 Ltd has said.

Excavation work has taken place under Park Hall Nature Reserve

Although the northern leg of HS2 was scrapped in October, phase one will eventually connect Birmingham with London, producing much shorter journey times.

However the project has suffered long delays and spiralling costs.

Originally due to open in 2026, the first passengers are now not expected to travel on the line until between 2029 and 2033.

Tunnelling project director Jules Arlaud said he felt proud to have reached the halfway point

Bromford is one of five main tunnels on the line, although in all HS2 will dig some 65 miles (105km) of tunnels to link up the capital with the West Midlands.

Between Water Orton and Washwood Heath alone, a total of 20,797 concrete segments will be put in place by the machine, to create the 2,971 concrete rings that will form the tunnel.

The machine is named Mary Ann, in tribute to Nuneaton author George Eliot, whose real name was Mary Ann Evans.

Ultimately this will be the first of two parallel tunnels, each taking one line into Birmingham.

The second is being dug by another boring machine called Elizabeth, named by local school children after Dame Elizabeth Cadbury.

It started in March 2024 and is due to finish its journey towards the end of 2025.

Tunnel segments are being put into place by the Mary Ann machine

A ventilation shaft at Castle Vale marks the halfway point on both tunnels.

It will eventually connect up to them via cross shafts and provide servicing and emergency access, as well as ventilation.

Project Director Jules Arlaud said the tunnel's engineering had required a huge amount of "effort, co-ordination and momentum".

"I think I will remember also the challenges that we have overcome," he added.

Steve Powell, HS2’s Head of Delivery, said: "We’re now at peak construction in the West Midlands, and it's great to celebrate the halfway point for the Mary Ann tunnel drive into Birmingham.

"By the end of next year, both of these tunnels will be built, marking a significant step in HS2's construction in the region."

Engineers are now planning the second half and exit of the 3.5 mile (5.6km) Bromford Tunnel