[VIDEO] See the first Birmingham tunnel breakthrough for HS2

HS2 has seen the first breakthrough in Birmingham for the Bromford Tunnel

The first Birmingham tunnel breakthrough will link the track from Warwickshire to Birmingham.

The tunnel is 3.5 miles in length and travels below motorways, watercourses, and National Grid infrastructure.

Mary Ann was the machine that made the first Birmingham tunnel breakthrough

The machine and the team undertaking the excavation worked for 625 days and nights to complete the tunnel.

The tunnel is set to be the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands.

The Mary Ann is a tunnel boring machine 125 metres in length, and began its journey in July 2023 near Water Orton, a village in Warwickshire, travelling 3.5 miles towards Birmingham and ending in the suburbs of Washwood Heath.

The tunnel will contribute to halving journey times between Birmingham and London, and will reduce congestion on the West Coast Main Line.

HS2 work is currently at a peak, employing 31,000 people, and the programme is undergoing a reset to tackle high costs and improve efficiency.

“A significant milestone for the project”

Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd’s chief executive, said: “Today’s breakthrough is a significant milestone for the project and I’m immensely proud of the men and women who have worked day and night to bring Mary Ann and her crew home safely.

“Washwood Heath is set to become one of the most important sites on the entire HS2 network – the point at which the railway will be operated, controlled and maintained using the very latest digital technology.

“HS2’s construction is transforming the West Midlands, and the £10bn investment boost it is already driving across the region will multiply in the years ahead.”

Jules Arlaud, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s tunnelling director, said: “Today’s breakthrough is a significant moment for Balfour Beatty VINCI, as we celebrate the arrival of our first tunnel boring machine into Birmingham. It’s been a challenging drive beneath critical live infrastructure and through complex ground conditions. I’m incredibly proud of our entire team, whose expertise, dedication and resilience has made this possible.

“This achievement follows years of design, planning and preparation from BBV, in close collaboration with HS2 and our partners. The team will now move onto the next phase of work inside and outside of the tunnel, while our second TBM, Elizabeth, continues to make great progress on the second drive.”

The tunnel is one of the three key HS2 sites in the West Midlands, the other two being the new stations in Birmingham and Solihull, which collectively are expected to bring £10bn to the economy through attracting investors and developers over the next decade.

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