HS2 Extension to Euston Gains Momentum with New Tunneling Machines

The UK government commits funding for tunneling work to extend HS2 into central London, as the project's new CEO faces challenges of cost and timeline management.

• Two tunnel boring machines, named Karen and Madeleine, have been unveiled to dig 4.5-mile tunnels from Old Oak Common to Euston, with work starting in 2026.
• HS2's extension into Euston was stalled in 2023 due to funding uncertainties, but the current government has pledged financial support to resume progress.
• New HS2 CEO Mark Wild, who previously led the completion of Crossrail, is tasked with stabilizing the project’s budget and timeline, with no fixed date yet for Euston services.
• The Euston station development remains a significant challenge, with plans under review to design an affordable and functional terminus integrated with existing transport systems.
• The HS2 project, the largest construction effort in Western Europe, is expected to transition from construction to operational phases under a leaner organizational structure.

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