Names of HS2’s latest TBMs revealed

HS2’s London Tunnels contractor, Skanksa Costain Strabag (SCS) joint venture, completed the lift at the 25m-deep shaft in Ealing as it prepares for the next stage of tunnelling under the capital.  

And today, HS2 has unveiled the names of the pair of TBMs. Following a public vote, the names Emily and Anne have been chosen.

The first TBM lowered into the shaft has been named after Emily Sophia Taylor who lived from 1872-1956. Emily was a midwife who provided services for women who could not afford maternity care. She helped establish the Perivale Maternity Hospital in 1937 before becoming Ealing’s first female mayor in 1938.

The second TBM’s namesake is Lady Anne Byron, an educational reformer and philanthropist who lived from 1792-1860. She established the Ealing Grove School in 1834 – England’s first co-operative school, which provided education for the working classes in an era when it was mainly for the wealthy.

The Herrenknecht EPBMs each weigh 1,700 tonnes. They have been designed for the soft ground conditions they will encounter, specifically London clay.

The machines will begin the 5.5km journey at the start of next year, travelling under Ealing from the Victoria Road site towards Greenpark Way in Greenford, taking around one year to complete the journey. At Greenpark Way, the TBMs will be disassembled and removed via a 35m-deep shaft.

SCS managing director James Richardson said: “The London Tunnels programme is in full swing and we’re excited to introduce our next two TBMs, Emily and Anne, to the project. They will join our first two TBMs, Sushila and Caroline, who are one year into constructing the 8.4-mile (12.9km) section of tunnel between West Ruislip and Victoria Road, just outside Old Oak Common.

“We are well on the way to delivering 13 miles of twin bore tunnels in London and next year we’ll be manufacturing our final two TBMs that will tunnel our final drive between Old Oak Common and Euston.”

This section of tunnelling will complete the 13.5km-long Northolt tunnel. The tunnel is being built in two sections. Two TBMs are already boring the western end of the tunnel, beginning in West Ruislip working towards Greenford with almost 3.2km completed so far. The two new TBMs will bore the eastern section. The final section of tunnel from Victoria Road Crossover Box to connect to Old Oak Common Station will be constructed using spray concrete lining.