HS2 Bromford Tunnel progress update 🚆 One tunnel drive done, one to go 🏗️

HS2’s giant tunnelling machine Mary Ann has now completed its 3.5-mile tunnel drive, marking the end of her mission to excavate the first bore of what will soon become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands. TBM Mary Ann, a 125-metre-long machine named by the local community in honour of Warwickshire-born writer George Eliot, has completed the 3.5-mile (5.8km) Bromford Tunnel—connecting Water Orton in North Warwickshire to Washwood Heath in northeast Birmingham. Launched in July 2023, this twin-bore tunnel drive marks a huge step forward for HS2, which will nearly halve journey times between London and Birmingham, while also unlocking space on the West Coast Main Line for more local, regional, and freight services. A 450-strong team supported the civil engineering feat. Men and women working on behalf of HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), worked around the clock, for just under two years, to complete the first section of the tunnel. The second bore is expected to be completed later this year by TBM Elizabeth. 💡 Why It Matters: ✔️ This is HS2’s first Birmingham tunnel breakthrough ✔️ TBM Mary Ann has delivered 3.5 miles of twin-bore tunnel under complex urban terrain ✔️ Around 31,000 people are now working across the HS2 route ✔️ Progress continues as the project undergoes a strategic reset to deliver the railway efficiently and cost-effectively Follow the journey as we bring high-speed rail into Britain’s second city—laying the foundation for a greener, faster, and more connected future. 📢 Subscribe for the latest news and updates from Britain’s high-speed railway, HS2. Follow us on social media: 💼 X:   / hs2ltd   📸 Instagram:   / hs2ltd   📘 Facebook:   / hs2ltd   🔗 LinkedIn:   / high-speed-two-hs2-ltd   #HS2 #Birmingham #TunnelBreakthrough #GeorgeEliot #MaryAnn #HighSpeedRail #Infrastructure #Engineering Get in touch: If you have any questions about HS2 or our ongoing works, contact our HS2 Helpdesk team: 📞 Call: 08081 434 434 📧 Email: [email protected]