HS2 has started its advance into the heart of London as the first of two giant machines begun work on the Euston Tunnel.
In a crucial moment for the high-speed rail project, the Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, turned on the 1,624-tonne machine at HS2’s Old Oak Common station in west London – starting its 4.5-mile journey under the capital to Euston.
The Tunnel represents the next stage of the HS2 project which will eventually see high-speed trains run directly to a new station in central London. Building the tunnel represents a crucial step in the wider regeneration of the Euston area, acting as a catalyst for investment and creating new homes and employment opportunities.
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch comes as HS2 is at an advanced stage of a comprehensive reset – putting the programme’s construction in the right sequence and bringing certainty to the railway’s final costs and opening dates. The reset, led by HS2 chief executive Mark Wild is crucial to putting HS2 back on track and unlocking the project’s transformational benefits – vital new rail capacity and economic growth.
When complete, the railway will open in stages, with the first services running between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street. HS2 will open all the way to Euston at a later date, which will be vital to delivering the full capacity and economic benefits that the railway offers.
Launching the tunnel-boring machine, Mark Wild said: “Over the past 12months, I have been leading a comprehensive reset across HS2 to get it back on track and I am confident that we’re on the right path to delivering HS2 safely and efficiently.
“The start of tunnelling here today is a part of the strong foundations we can build upon to completing HS2 and deliver better journeys for rail passengers.”
The delivery of the new HS2 station at Euston will be led by a new Euston Delivery Company. Once established, the Company will lead delivery of an affordable and integrated transport hub – including the new HS2 station, the redevelopment of the existing station, and upgrades to the London Underground station – along with commercial development across the Euston campus.
Independent research commissioned by Camden Council in 2024 to assess the potential economic benefits of a locally led regeneration of Euston Station found it could contribute £41 billion to the UK economy by 2053 and support 34,000 new jobs.
Rail Minister Lord Hendy said: “It was brilliant to switch on the tunnel boring machine at Old Oak Common today – not just because it’s an engineering marvel – but because it brings HS2’s journey to Euston another step closer to reality.
“We’re putting HS2 back on track, and taking the railway into central London is crucial to unlocking its full potential to deliver more jobs, more homes, and a long-term boost to the whole British economy.”
Engineers from HS2’s London tunnels contactor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV), have been working to prepare the machines for their tunnelling mission over the last 12 months. The tunnelling operation for the Euston Tunnel is being facilitated by a separate logistics tunnel which was completed in January 2024. The 853 metre Atlas Road Logistics Tunnel will allow the tunnelling team to access both machines, deliver construction materials including 48,294 concrete ring segments (combined total), and remove over 1.5 million tonnes of excavated spoil.
All the excavated material from the tunnel will be taken via conveyor to the London Logistics Hub at the Willesden Euro terminal Depot. From there it is taken by rail for reuse in projects in Kent, Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire.
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