Two 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines digging HS2's longest tunnels passed the second of five ventilation shafts, four miles into their 10 mile drive under the Chilterns.

The milestone comes a week after the launch of another giant TBM in Ruislip which begin excavating the London tunnels for the high speed rail project linking the capital with the Midlands and the North.

Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, the first TBMs – named Florence and Cecilia – were launched in Summer 2021 from the southern portal of the tunnels.

Each machine is a 170m long self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete segments to form rings and grouting them into place as it moves forward.

More than 44,000 segments have been used to form the concrete rings that line the tunnels, with a further 68,000 set to be installed before the TBMs break out at the northern end of the tunnel in two years’ time.

-- Advertisement --

The 46m deep shaft at Chalfont St Giles is one of four that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the ten-mile-long twin tunnels. A fifth will just provide emergency access. Once complete, the shaft will be covered by a headhouse designed to resemble local farm buildings.

More than 27,000 jobs are already being supported by HS2, which is designed to transform transport links between Britai'’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

Martyn Noak, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnel Engineering, said: "The Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underneath the hills and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above ground as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway.

"It's great to see how much progress has been made by Florence and Cecilia – and the teams excavating the five shafts – and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us this far."

These first two TBMs on the HS2 project are operated by, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Each machine has a crew of 17 people, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.