The second giant boring machine (TBM) building HS2 under the Chiltern Hills broke through at the tunnel’s northern portal, completing a journey that began in June 2021. Named Cecilia, the TBM has driven for 10 miles underground to join twin sister machine – Florence. She arrived at the site near the Buckinghamshire town of Wendover on 27 February, after completing her adjacent tunnel drive. Between them, the two 2,000 tonne machines have built the twin bore tunnel at depths of up to 80 metres and excavated three million cubic metres of chalk. Each machine operates like an underground factory, able to excavate the tunnels and line them with 56,000 pre-cast concrete tunnel segments, grouting them into place and moving forward at an average speed of 16 metres per day. When HS2 is operah-speed line will relieve traffic the West Coast Mainline, freeing up space for more local services on the most crowded part of the important Victorian route. It will almost double rail capacity between London and the West Midlands, providing a more reliable service and driving economic growth. Follow us on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/HS2ltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hs2ltd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HS2ltd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-speed-two-hs2-ltd/ #HS2 #Construction #update #Tunnelling #breakthrough #timelapse #drone #train #highspeed @HerrenknechtAG @bouyguesconstruction @DJI If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email [email protected]. Show more