Overview
- The first tunnel-boring machine, Madeleine, began driving the 4.5-mile route toward Euston on 27 January at a ceremony attended by Darren Jones and Rail Minister Lord Hendy.
- Old Oak Common will act as the initial London terminus because major Euston works have been paused since 2023 and now hinge on private investment via a proposed Euston Delivery Company.
- The twin-bore tunnel is expected to take about 12 to 18 months and reach depths up to 50 metres, with a second machine, Karen, due to launch in the coming months.
- Contractors say the 190-metre, 1,624-tonne machine will remove more than 1.5 million tonnes of spoil and install over 8,000 precast rings, with most movements by rail to reduce lorry traffic.
- HS2 chief executive Mark Wild says a programme reset is underway with a revised cost and schedule due this year, as business and local leaders push for a credible Euston regeneration plan delivering new homes and jobs.