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May 30, 2023

HS2’s Long Itchington Wood TBM parts transported back to launch site

Following the first tunnelling breakthrough on the High Speed 2 scheme, the

Following the first tunnelling breakthrough on the High Speed 2 scheme, the tunnel boring machine is being moved back to its starting point, getting ready for the second dig in Warwickshire.

Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Dorothy was the first on the high speed rail project to complete its bore. It finished the 1.6km drive under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire on 22 July.

The TBM's cutterhead has now been dismantled and transported back to the tunnel's north portal.

High Speed 2 (HS2) contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci's (BBV's) plant and logistics team managed the move of the 160t, 10m diameter machine part on Wednesday night (21 September).

Standing upright on a 12m long, 48 wheel self propelled trailer, the cutterhead was transported from the south portal site, along the A425, through the village of Ufton.

The TBM's 120t tail skin, also 10m in diameter, was moved in the same operation. The 4km journey took three hours.

The team has also moved eight other large pieces from the machine's front and middle shields, using specialist equipment.

The rest of the 120m long TBM will be pulled back through the tunnel by a special "caterpillar" system, at a pace of 150m per day.

Once all the parts are back at the north portal, the TBM will be reassembled before starting the second bore later this year.

BBV logistics manager Tom Comer said: "This has been an intricately planned operation, using specialist equipment to transport these large, heavy pieces of machinery safely and carefully, over a 2.5 mile route, and onto our north portal site. The whole team was proud to see the operation culminate in such an impressive sight, as the huge TBM cutterhead completed its short journey.

"We worked closely with the local authority, Warwickshire Police and British Transport Police, and would like to thank them for helping us ensure a safe operation, carried out at night to minimise disruption to the local community as much as possible."

HS2 senior project manager Alan Payne added: "The BBV logistics and site teams have done a great job to make this a safe and successful operation. We’re now looking forward to the reassembly of the TBM over the coming weeks, and the start of the second bore of the tunnel later this year.

"When we celebrate the breakthrough next summer, this will be the first fully completed twin bore tunnel on the HS2 project."

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