Long Itchington Tunnel
edit| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | United Kingdom (Warwickshire) |
| Coordinates |
|
| OS grid reference | SP382628 |
| Status | Under construction |
| System | High Speed 2 |
| Crosses | Long Itchington Wood |
| Start | Bascote |
| End | Southam |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 3 December 2021 |
| Traffic | Rail |
| Technical | |
| Length | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrified | 25 kV 50 Hz AC |
| Operating speed | 360km/h (224mph) |
The Long Itchington Tunnel (otherwise known as the Long Itchington Wood Tunnel) is a high-speed railway tunnel currently under construction in Warwickshire, England, and will upon completion carry the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway line under Long Itchington Wood, an ancient woodland and Site of Special Scientific Interest. The tunnel when complete will be 1.9 km (1.2 miles) long, 1.6 km (0.99 miles) of which will be bored.
Boring began with the launch of TBM Dorothy in December 2021, and was completed when the TBM broke through on the second drive in March 2023.
History
editThe Long Itchington Tunnel
Bromford Tunnel
edit| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Line | High Speed 2 |
| Location | United Kingdom (West Midlands, Warwickshire) |
| Coordinates | 52°30′04″N 1°50′42″W / 52.501°N 1.845°W (west portal)
|
| OS grid reference | SP166907 |
| Status | Under construction |
| System | High Speed 2 |
| Start | Water Orton |
| End | Washwood Heath |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 14 August 2023 |
| Traffic | Rail |
| Technical | |
| Length | 5.7 km (3.5 miles) |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrified | 25 kV 50 Hz AC |
| Operating speed | 230km/h (143mph) |
The Bromford Tunnel is a high-speed railway tunnel currently under construction in the West Midlands, England, and will upon completion carry the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway line under the north-eastern suburbs of Birmingham. The twin-bore tunnel will run from Water Orton to Washwood Heath, and is planned to be 5.7 km (3.5 miles) long when complete.[1]
Boring work was expected to commence in March 2023,[2] however TBM Mary Ann was only launched in August of that year. A second TBM is expected to be launched during 2024.[1]
History
editWithin the original Phase One plans for High Speed 2, the Bromford Tunnel was planned to have a total length of 2.8 km (1.7 miles), running from Washwood Heath to Castle Bromwich, with the railway continuing towards Water Orton at or above grade. However, due to the amount of surface disruption this section of line would cause, HS2 applied for a Transport and Works Act Order to extend the Bromford Tunnel east for another 2.9 km (1.8 miles) on 20 January 2022.[1][3] This was approved in [insert date here][citation needed].
One new tunnel boring machine was ordered from Herrenknecht in [insert date here][citation needed], and was subsequently named Mary Ann (after Victorian writer Mary Ann Evans, more commonly known by her pen name of George Eliot) after a public consultation from local residents. This TBM was launched on 14 August, 2023.
Progress
editAs of 30 August 2023[update], TBM Mary Ann, the first to be launched in August 2023, has progressed a total of 0.118 km (0.073 miles) from the eastern portal.[4]
- ^ a b c "Bromford Tunnel". HS2. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ Hakimian, Rob (15 July 2022). "HS2 timeline of major events to 2025 revealed". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ Menteth, Thames (27 January 2022). "HS2 seeks approval to extend Bromford Tunnel". Ground Engineering. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "In your area map". HS2. Retrieved 18 September 2023.