A third tunnel boring machine (TPM) for HS2 has begun work. Lydia is going from the HS2 Atlas Road site in North Acton to its Old Oak Common Station site – a journey of 853 metres that will take around six months.
The machine has been named Lydia after Lydia Gandaa, a former teacher at nearby Old Oak Common Primary School and a founding member of the Bubble & Squeak social enterprise in the area.
The tunnel machine was switched on following a naming and blessing ceremony at the Atlas Road site. Lydia was at the event to see her name unveiled on the giant machine, alongside pupils from Old Oak Primary School.
Lydia said: “I’m delighted to have been invited to come down to the HS2 site and am honoured see the TBM that has been named after me. I am passionate about the local community and thank them for choosing my name for the TBM.”
According to HS2, this 853 metre tunnel will be used to deliver materials and remove spoil from the northern portal where HS2’s Euston twin bored Tunnel will be constructed and the tunnel will be transporting a massive 8,010 tunnel segment rings to construct the Euston tunnel.
Malcolm Codling, HS2’s project client for the London tunnels, said: “The Atlas Road logistics tunnel is key to how we will be constructing the Euston Tunnel between Old Oak Common and HS2’s Euston station. The logistics tunnel allows us to take 70,000 lorry journeys off the local roads that would otherwise have been required and will reduce the impact of HS2’s construction on the local community.”
James Richardson, managing director of Skanska Costain STRABAG JV, said:
“This is our third TBM to launch in London and later this year we will have five machines operating. Four of these will be boring the HS2 tunnels, linking West Ruislip and Old Common. Today’s launch is significant as it is not used for the operational railways, but will create a direct link to between our logistics hub and Old Oak Common, allowing us to transport tunnel segments and spoil without using local roads.”
 for HS2 has begun work from and is going from the HS2 Atlas Road site in North Acton to its Old Oak Common Station site a journey of 853 metres that will take around six months.){kind=link}