High speed railway HS2 is celebrating a breakthrough that has seen its Lydia tunnel boring machine complete it 853m long tunnel into Acton’s Old Oak Common station and prepares HS2 to go to Euston in central London.
In a statement, HS2 claims that the tunnel will eventually be used to allow materials required for the Euston Tunnel to be transported to the site without impacting local roads or disrupting work going on elsewhere at Old Oak Common station.
HS2 said that following the government’s Network North announcement in October 2023, alternative funding arrangements for the delivery of Euston station are being considered but work continues with the preparations and design of the railway between Old Oak Common and Euston.
The TBM was named Lydia, a name selected by the local community, after Lydia Gandaa – a former teacher at Old Oak Common Primary School.
Malcolm Codling, project client director for HS2 Ltd said: “The completion of the Atlas Road Logistics Tunnel takes us closer along our journey to bring HS2 into central London at Euston. The logistics tunnel is a key part of our plans to enable us to construct the Euston Tunnel and will reduce the construction impact on the local community.”
James Richardson, managing director of Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture, added: “The completion of the Atlas Road logistics tunnel paves the way for us to deliver our London tunnels programme to Euston. The tunnel supports our continued commitment to reducing cost and carbon by removing one million lorry journeys off London’s roads.”
