HS2 - Giant Tunnelling Machine Digs In

‘Florence’, the first of 10 Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) on the HS2 project, was launched on 7 May at the Align JV South Portal site in Hertfordshire. The 2000 tonne, 170m-long machine has started work digging a 16km  long tunnel under the Chilterns as part of Phase One of HS2. ‘Florence’ is the largest TBM ever to be used on a UK railway project. Over the next three years, it will operating 24/7 until the tunnel is complete.

Rendel and Ingerop are part of the ALIGN-D JV with Jacobs and sub-consultants GZ, LDA and Grimshaw, working for the ALIGN JV to deliver the C1 package of HS2.