The gently-curved 3.4 kilometre (2.1 mile) long structure on London’s north-western edge stretches across the Colne Valley near the M25 motorway and the village of Denham. It will carry high speed trains running to and from the capital at speeds of up to 320km/h (200mph).

The viaduct’s completion means that the 3.3km Tay Bridge linking Fife and Dundee has finally ceded the crown of Britain’s longest rail bridge to HS2, a record it had held since 1887.

The Colne Valley viaduct’s construction is being managed by the main works contractor Align JV – a team consisting of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick. It is one of 500 bridging structures on the HS2 project which also include footbridges, drainage culverts and innovative 'green bridges' for wildlife.

Building work on the viaduct’s deck began in May 2022. Over the following 28 months a dedicated team of highly-skilled engineers used a massive launching girder to lower into place the bridge’s 1,000 uniquely-shaped deck segments.

Edging forward from north to south and supported on the viaduct’s 56 piers, the 160 metre long launcher used a balanced-cantilever method to lower deck segments into place to form half an arch either side of a pier before moving to the next pier to complete the arch span by repeating the process.

The 1,000 pre-cast segments are made on-site at a purpose-built factory. Each of the segments is uniquely shaped to enable the structure to curve as it carries the high speed line up to 10 metres above land and water across the Colne Valley.

Once the main civil engineering phase of construction ends, the factory and surrounding buildings will be removed and the whole area between the viaduct and HS2’s 10-mile tunnel beneath the Chiltern Hills just to the north will be transformed into an area of chalk grassland and woodland as part of HS2’s ‘green corridor’ project.

The viaduct’s construction will next move into the rail systems installation phase as it progresses towards becoming an operational part of the new high speed railway between 2029 and 2033.

Once open HS2 will carry reliable, high-speed trains between London and Birmingham, significantly reducing journey times and freeing up space on the existing mainline for more local and freight services. Major construction work on the project is now at its peak, with more than 30,000 people employed, and the programme will soon start the transition to its next critical stage – the awarding of railway and track contracts as development of the working railway takes shape.

HS2 Ltd senior project manager Billy Ahluwalia said:

“Lowering the Colne Valley viaduct’s final deck segment into place today marks the culmination of more than 10 years of planning, design and construction. I pay tribute to the dedicated team that has delivered a bridge that is both the longest on HS2 and has become the United Kingdom’s longest railway bridge – taking a record that had stood for nearly 140 years. That is a historic achievement of which we can all be immensely proud.” 

Align Project Director, Loïc Menard said:

“The Align team, along with our supply chain partners VSL who operated the launching girder, have worked very hard to get us to where we are today, ahead of plan. Working together and as a truly integrated team that includes HS2, Align, our design partners, our supply chain colleagues and the local community, we have built the Colne Valley Viaduct which will be the iconic feature of HS2.”

The milestone comes a week after the completion of HS2's first major viaduct, at Highfurlong Brook in Northamptonshire. Work is also progressing on the Delta Junction viaducts in the West Midlands and the elevated approaches to Curzon Street station.

Construction of the giant network of tunnels for HS2 has now passed the halfway point, marking a significant milestone for Britain’s new high-speed line.

HS2, which is at peak construction, supporting more than 31,000 jobs, has now completed excavation of two of its five twin-bore tunnels, with a further two well underway.

It underlines the scale of the progress being made on the line which is being constructed at 350 separate worksites between London and the West Midlands.

In total, high-speed trains will travel through 27.4 miles of twin-bore tunnels – or almost a fifth of the 140-mile route. This means that HS2’s fleet of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are excavating and building a total of 54.8 miles of tunnel.

New analysis published today shows that 29 miles – 53% – has been excavated and built so far, eclipsing the length of tunnels bored for the Crossrail line beneath London.

Each TBM operates like an underground factory, excavating the tunnels, lining them with pre-cast concrete tunnel segments, grouting them into place and moving forward at an average speed of between 12 and 16 metres per day.

Once the drives are finished, HS2 moves to the next stage of the tunnelling project when other vital features such as the cross-passages, vent shafts and portals will be completed. This comes before the internal fit-out of railway systems including power, track and signalling which allows high-speed trains to operate.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said:

“Reaching this impressive milestone on a project of HS2’s scale shows just how much momentum is behind construction of the line, which, once complete, will have a transformative impact on rail travel for generations to come.

“It’s a significant achievement for the team helping deliver this railway and I’m delighted the project has now supported record numbers of new jobs, demonstrating the vital role it is playing in creating opportunities up and down the country.”

Completed tunnels:

• In March 2023, TBM ‘Dorothy’ completed its second drive of the one-mile Long Itchington Wood Tunnel in Warwickshire – the first tunnel to be completed on the project.

• Earlier this year, ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ completed both drives of the 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel – the longest tunnel on the route – with the second breakthrough witnessed in March.

On-track tunnels:

• In London, four TBMs are digging the 8.4-mile Northolt Tunnel. ‘Sushila’ and ‘Caroline’ have excavated around three miles of their five-mile route, travelling from West Ruislip on the outskirts of the capital to Green Park Way in Greenford, north-west London. Two more are building a 3.4-mile section of this tunnel in the opposite direction from Victoria Road in Ealing to Green Park Way. ‘Emily’ has completed 0.2 miles and ‘Anne’ has just set off.

• In the Midlands, ‘Mary Ann’ is 1.3 miles into the 3.5-mile drive of the first bore of the Bromford Tunnel between Water Orton in North Warwickshire and Washwood Heath in Birmingham. ‘Elizabeth’ has just started to build the second bore.

Tunnel yet to start:

• Significant preparatory works have already been completed ahead of the formal start of the 4.5 mile Euston Tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston stations in London. The two TBMs are currently being manufactured and tested. The government is now exploring different funding mechanisms for delivery of the tunnel.

The figures came as separate quarterly analysis was published showing that a record number of jobs are now supported by HS2. Figures show 31,160 are now employed directly or through the supply chain in the first three months of 2024, an increase of 2,674 full-time equivalent roles over the previous quarter. Some 1,533 new apprenticeships have been created and 4,258 formerly unemployed people have now found work on HS2 since 2017.

Jackie Roe, HS2’s Civils Delivery Director said:

“The halfway point for our tunnelling programme is a fantastic milestone, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do on the tunnels, including all cross passages, vent shafts and then fitting them out with the critical rail and power systems that will eventually allow trains to safely operate.

“This is a significant step towards delivering the country’s new high speed railway, which will provide faster and far more reliable journeys, while almost doubling capacity on the most congested part of the West Coast Main Line.”

The machines are operated by crews of around 17, working in shifts to keep the 24/7 operation running. They are supported by teams on the surface managing logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. In addition, many more people are involved in producing the concrete tunnel wall segments, along with dedicated teams processing the material from the tunnels so it can be re-used elsewhere on the project.

The rest of the HS2 route includes six cut and cover, or ‘green’ tunnels totalling 5.2 miles, and 70 cuttings totalling 44 miles, which means over half of the track – around 76 miles - is below ground level in tunnels or cuttings, reducing visibility of the railway.

When complete, HS2 will improve connections between London and the West Midlands, with trains running further north on existing lines. The new high speed railway will create quicker and more reliable journeys, driving economic growth while crucially freeing up space for more local trains on the most congested part of the existing West Coast Main Line.

They juxtapose the new 140-mile high speed London-Birmingham railway against the eighteenth century’s solution to connecting Britain’s two largest cities.

Both were built under powers granted by Act of Parliament; arrive in the Birmingham district of Digbeth; and with similar lengths – HS2, 140miles; the canal, 137 miles – were two of the largest civil engineering endeavours of their time.

The two differ dramatically in other respects. Compared to the sedate progress of canal boats high speed trains will travel across the 2.1mile viaduct at speeds of up to 200mph, completing the journey between the capital and Britain's second city in just 49mins. 

Uniquely shaped and weighing as much as 140 tonnes, 755 of the viaduct's 1,000 deck segments have been installed creating 39 spans over land and water for 1.5 miles.

News comes after construction of all the viaduct's 56 supporting piers was completed in advance of the deck being installed above. 

Once complete, HS2 will provide faster and far more reliable journeys between London and Birmingham, with trains running on conventional lines further north. It will also double rail capacity between the UK’s two biggest cities – relieving the most congested southern part of the West Coast Main Line, creating more capacity for local and freight services.

HS2 Ltd senior project manager Billy Ahluwalia, said:

“I pay tribute to the tremendous dedication and professionalism of the whole team who’ve maintained high standards of safety and quality, working over land and water, come rain or shine to deliver the viaduct’s 56 piers along a 2.1-mile stretch of HS2’s route. Their remarkable achievement will be for all to see across this century and well into the next.   

“Our work to install the viaduct’s remaining deck segments continues at pace, followed by the installation of the deck edge parapets and noise barriers, before we hand over to Rail Systems for the next major phase of the build programme.”

Viaduct construction is led by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – that includes Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and Volker Fitzpatrick.

Align’s surface operations director, Derek van Rensburg said:

“I would like to highlight the huge contribution made by our subcontractor Kilnbridge that ensured all the piers were constructed safely, to the highest quality and in line with the programme. Working over water with complex structures and temporary works, detailed concrete mix designs and with architectural and design constraints, all led to making these works a major challenge of the viaduct construction. I am pleased to say that the integrated working relationship we established with Kilnbridge made delivering this all part of the day job.”

The second giant boring machine (TBM) building HS2 under the Chiltern Hills broke through at the tunnel’s northern portal late this afternoon, 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 operational trains will travel through the Chiltern tunnel – the line’s longest – at speeds of up to 200mph, helping to almost halve journey times between Britain’s two largest cities.

The new high-speed line will relieve traffic on 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.

HS2 Ltd’s head of civil works for this section of the route, Mark Clapp, said:

“Today is a remarkable achievement for all concerned. Cecilia’s arrival completes excavation of HS2’s 10-mile twin-bore tunnel, but it’s only the end of the first chapter in the story of building Britain’s high-speed railway under the Chiltern Hills.

“Several years of intensive, world class engineering lie ahead of us to complete the tunnels’ four ventilation shafts plus headhouses; install the mechanical and electrical plant and machinery, slab track and overhead electrical wires before trains begin passing through at 200mph.”

Both machines launched from the tunnel’s south portal, near the M25 motorway, were operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. The machines are made in Germany by TBM specialists Herrenknecht.

Align’s Underground Construction Director, Didier Jacques said:

“Ten miles is a long drive for a TBM, with a typical average being around three miles. The complexity and technical challenges of completing such a long drive for both our TBMs has been significant, however I am delighted that as a team, we have risen to the challenge.

“Both TBMs were designed in partnership with Herrenknecht and incorporating innovations and technologies that have been introduced on TBMs in the UK for the first time, to enhance performance and safety. This includes ‘semi-continuous boring’, allowing our TBMs to build the rings that line the tunnels without pausing.”

Each TBM is operated by a crew of around 17, working in shifts to keep the machines running when required 24/7. They are supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

In total over 450 people have worked on the tunnels over the last three years, including a dedicated production team who made 112,000 precision-engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete tunnel wall segments on site at a purpose build temporary factory - and a team processing the spoil from the tunnels.

Completion of tunnelling under the Chilterns follows recent publication of HS2 Ltd research showing how high-speed line’s arrival in the West Midlands will give a £10 billion economic boost over the next decade, with new development around its stations at Birmingham’s Curzon Street and near the city’s airport and the NEC.

HS2’s first giant tunnelling machine – which launched almost 3 years ago – broke through today at the end of her 10-mile (16km) journey under the Chilterns, excavating the longest tunnel on the ambitious new rail project.

The enormous 2,000 tonne Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named ‘Florence’, is one of 10 machines excavating the 32 miles of tunnel on the new railway linking London Euston with Birmingham and was the first to launch, in May 2021.

The breakthrough is a major milestone for the HS2 project, which will almost halve journey times between Britain’s two largest cities, while freeing up space for more local services on the most crowded part of the existing West Coast Main Line.

Two identical TBMs were used to create the twin-bore Chiltern tunnel, which stretches from the South Portal near the M25 to South Heath in Buckinghamshire. Parallel tunnels will carry north and south bound trains with a second TBM, named ‘Cecilia’, due to breakthrough in the coming weeks.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said:

“This ground-breaking moment for HS2 demonstrates significant progress on the country’s largest infrastructure project, with ‘Florence’ paving the way for faster, greener journeys between London and Birmingham while supporting hundreds of jobs and apprenticeships along the way.

“Today’s breakthrough of HS2’s longest tunnel highlights the momentum behind the project and the achievement is testament to the hard work and dedication of the 450-strong team helping deliver the line that will transform rail travel for generations to come.”

Designed specifically for the geology under the Chilterns, each TBM is an underground factory – excavating the tunnel, lining it with 56,000 pre-cast concrete segments and grouting them into place as it moves forward at an average speed of 16m per day.

Four similar TBMs are being used for the London approach tunnels, while another two will work on Birmingham’s Bromford tunnel. Preparations are also underway for the launch of two more machines to excavate the Euston tunnels.

The breakthrough comes a week after HS2 published new research which shows how the impending arrival of high speed rail will drive a £10 billion economic boost for the West Midlands during the next 10 years, with a huge increase in new development around the two station sites.

HS2 Ltd Executive Chairman, Sir Jon Thompson, said:

“Today is an incredible day of HS2 and I’d like to thank the hundreds of people who’ve worked so hard over many years to make it happen. Once complete, HS2 will dramatically improve journeys between our two largest cities and also free up space on the existing mainline for more local trains.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but historic moments like today really underline the huge amount of progress that’s been made and the fantastic engineering skills we have on the project.”

Both machines launched from the South Portal and are operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. The machines are made by TBM specialists Herrenknecht, in Germany.

Each TBM is operated by a crew of around 17 people, working in shifts to keep the machines running 24/7. They are supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

In total, more than 450 people have worked on the tunnels and in support teams on the surface over the last 3 years. This includes a dedicated team which produced 112,000 precision-engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete tunnel wall segments at a purpose build temporary factory at the South Portal who completed their work just before Christmas - and a team processing the spoil from the tunnels.

Align’s Project Director, Daniel Altier said:

“The typical drive for a TBM is 5-6km and therefore the challenges in completing at 16km drive should not be underestimated.

 “Florence and her sister TBM Cecilia were designed in partnership with Herrenknecht. They incorporate a number of innovations and technologies that have been introduced on TBMs in the UK for the first time, to enhance performance and safety. This includes ‘semi-continuous boring’, allowing our TBMs to build the rings that line the tunnels without pausing.

“The mining of the tunnel is a fantastic achievement for not only the Align tunnelling team but also the earthworks team who have managed chalk excavated from the tunnels and placed on site, along with many other supporting functions. I would also like to acknowledge our supply chain partners, including TGT that provided the teams to operate the TBMs and MS with whom we designed and operated the slurry treatment plant, with 24 filter presses it is the largest in the world.”

The 3 million cubic metres of chalk and other material removed during the tunnelling is being used to create an ambitious grassland restoration project at the south portal, which will include 127 hectares of new landscaping, wildlife habitat and biodiverse chalk grassland. The chalk, which is pumped back through the tunnel in a slurry mixed with water, is processed at a slurry treatment plant at the south portal site where the flint is removed and water extracted before it can be reused in landscaping.

Chalk grassland – a type of calcareous grassland - is habitat of international conservation importance mainly found on limestone and chalk valleys of south-east England and the Isle of Wight. Lime-rich, but low in nutrients, the thin soil holds little water and heats up quickly. These conditions encourage a huge variety of smaller herbs and wildflowers and over 40 species can be found in one square metre of grassland, including some of the UK’s rarest orchids and invertebrates. Only 700 hectares of chalk grassland exist across the whole of the Chilterns AONB.

At its deepest point, the tunnel is 80m beneath the Chilterns and passes under the M25, local railway lines and twice under the River Misbourne. Extensive water quality, groundwater level and surface water flow monitoring was put in place prior to the start of construction, and there has been no significant change to water quality during the tunnelling work.

Align is also delivering the record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which will be the longest railway bridge in the UK, with construction of the deck now over two-thirds complete.

The enormous 2,000 tonne machines are now 90% of the way through their two-and-a-half-year drive between the M25 and South Heath in Buckinghamshire to create the twin-bore tunnel.

In total, HS2 will require 64 miles of tunnelling, with five Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) already in the ground, three more ready to go and another two due to be delivered next year. Once complete, HS2 will help improve connections between London, Birmingham and the North while creating space on the most congested part of the existing West Coast Main Line.

Each Chiltern TBM is a 170m long self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with 56,000 concrete segments to form rings and grouting them into place as it moves forward.

Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, the machines were launched in Summer 2021 from a site near the M25 and have already excavated approximately 2.8 million cubic metres of chalk and flint.

As well as digging and lining the tunnels, engineers have also completed the excavation of four other shafts that will provide ventilation and emergency access near Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham and Little Missenden with work now happening to create the internal structures and the headhouses on the surface.

Mark Clapp, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Delivery, said:

“Once complete, HS2 will transform journeys between London and the West Midlands and free up space on the busiest part of the West Coast Main Line. We’re making great progress in the Chilterns, with 90% of the tunnel excavation now complete. That’s an incredible engineering achievement and I look forward to the breakthrough, next year.”

The 42m deep shaft near Great Missenden – which the TBM has now reached – is largely hidden behind a hedge and line of mature oak trees next to the B485.

A ‘headhouse’ will be built on top of the shaft designed to resemble local farm buildings with new planting to help blend it into the surrounding landscape. The Chesham Road shaft will only be used for emergency access, while the others will also contain ventilation equipment.

The two TBMs are operated by, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Each machine has a crew of around 15 people, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Didier Jacques, Align’s Underground Construction Director said:

"With our first TBM Florence having reached our fifth shaft at Chesham Road and our second TBM Cecilia due to reach the shaft shortly, this a great achievement for not only the tunnelling team, but also the supporting teams on the surface at the South Portal, manufacturing the concrete segments required to line the tunnels and processing the spoil from the tunnels.

"We are looking forward to continuing the good progress with the TBMs, which are due to complete their drives early next year.”  

Approximately 3 million cubic metres of material – mostly chalk and flint - will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping. Once construction is complete, the temporary buildings at the south portal will be removed and the site landscaped with around 90 hectares of wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats.

Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of southeast England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns.

Alongside the Chiltern tunnels, two TBMs are currently excavating the London tunnels with two more due to launch soon. One TBM is excavating the Bromford tunnel in Birmingham with another ready to go. Two TBMs which will excavate the Euston tunnels are due to be delivered to site next year.

Once complete, the tunnel will carry high speed trains between London and the West Midlands at speeds of up to 200mph (320km/h) freeing up space on the busiest part of the West Coast mainline and improving journeys between Britain’s two largest cities.

The trains will travel through two parallel tunnels linked by short passages for use in emergencies. Unlike the main tunnels, which are being excavated by two giant tunnelling machines – named Florence and Cecilia – these smaller cross-passages are dug using remotely controlled mini-excavators.

An expert team of miners use the excavators to break out of the southbound running tunnel and dig the 15-20 metres to the adjacent northbound tunnel.  As the excavation progresses the ground is supported using a sprayed concrete lining (SCL).

Once the team has completed the SCL lined tunnel, a water-proof membrane is installed followed by a secondary concrete lining constructed by placing concrete behind formwork installed in the cross passage.

Aaron Harrison, HS2 Ltd’s Project Manager, said:

“We’re making great progress on the Chiltern tunnel with approaching 9 out of 10 miles complete, and our cross-passage teams are catching up fast. Once complete, HS2 will dramatically improve journeys between London and the West Midlands, unlock tens of thousands of new homes and free up space on the busiest part of the West Coast Main Line.

“While invisible to the travelling public, these hidden passages have a key role in providing a safe operational railway so it’s great to see such good progress.”

The Chiltern tunnel is being delivered by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – which is also responsible for the nearby Colne Valley Viaduct, which also reached the halfway point last week.

Didier Jacques, Align’s Underground Construction Director, said:

“I am delighted with the progress made by our cross-passage team, working in close cooperation with our supply chain partners. In particular I would like to acknowledge the contribution from KVJV who is responsible for the ground treatment, specialist contractor Euro Diamond Drilling and waterproofing specialist Renesco.”

Once the cross-passages are complete, they are temporarily sealed for fire safety reasons before permanent safety doors can be installed at either end. These are being manufactured by Bolton-based Booth Industries who won the contract to provide more than 300 units for all the tunnels between London and Birmingham.

The win allowed Booth Industries to establish a new facility in the town and create up to 50 jobs over the next 10 years. The sliding doors have been subjected to rigorous fire and fatigue testing to take account of the high train speeds, associated pressures and frequency of the trains.

Each running tunnel has an emergency walkway that allows passengers to safely evacuate the train and walk through the cross passages into the other tunnel where they can be rescued on a passenger train.  Access for emergency services is from either the portal or one of the five ventilation/emergency access shafts. Additional short tunnels known as ‘adits’, that connect the shafts to the running tunnels, are also under construction by the team with the mining on two of the adits already complete. 

Florence and Cecilia are expected to breakthrough at the north portal early next year.

Construction of its 56 piers to carry the deck across both land and water began in December 2021. For the past 18 months a massive launching girder has been working its way south across the valley, one pier to the next, to lower and fix into place the viaduct’s deck segments.

News of the Colne Valley Viaduct passing its halfway point coincides with today’s publication of HS2’s Construction Review. It highlights project progress across 350 worksites between London and the West Midlands since main works construction began in Autumn 2020. Building work has started on two thirds of the railway’s 55 viaducts. Over 20 miles of single-bore tunnels - more than a third of the total - have been driven, supported by 160,000 tunnel segments.

Weighing up to 140 tonnes each, more than 500 of the Colne Valley Viaduct's 1,000 deck segments have been installed. Each one is uniquely shaped to enable the structure to gently curve as it carries the railway 2.1 miles over land, lakes and the Grand Union Canal.   

Sir Jon Thompson, HS2 Ltd’s Executive Chair, said:

“HS2 is by far the biggest and most ambitious infrastructure project in the UK and it’s fantastic to see phenomenal feats of civil engineering like the Colne Valley Viaduct taking shape. The enormous progress made in the last three years along the length of the route between London and the West Midlands is testament to the skill and dedication of the thousands of people who work on this transformational project every day.”

HS2 Ltd senior project manager Billy Ahluwalia said:

“I pay tribute to the teamwork, professionalism and dedication of everyone involved in getting this landmark viaduct to its halfway mark. There’s still a long way to go to complete the viaduct; which I know will be achieved with the same dedication of everyone in the Align JV and its supply chain partners.”

The Colne Valley Viaduct construction is led by HS2 Ltd’s main civil works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Align's Surface Operations Director, Derek van Rensburg said:

“To have manufactured and installed over 500 segments, which equates to over one mile of the viaduct deck, is another great achievement for the Align team involved, working with our supply chain partners and in particular VSL. It is also important to note that we have delivered this work safely and in the process we have endeavoured to minimise any disruption for the local community.”

Once complete, the viaduct will be the longest railway bridge in the UK, stretching for more than two miles (3.4km) across the Grand Union Canal, River Colne, local roads and a series of lakes on the outskirts of London between Ruislip and the start of the Chiltern tunnels.

To allow for the gentle curve of the viaduct, each of the one thousand segments that form the arches and deck are slightly different – and all are manufactured at a temporary factory set up close by, with direct access to the M25.

Most of these segments are slotted into place by a giant 700-tonne ‘launching girder’ – the only one of its kind in the UK. But the engineers used a different approach at Moorhall Road to allow the closure to coincide with the school summer holidays when traffic is lighter. 

Construction of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and the north, will help boost the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel. It is approaching the peak of construction activity, with more than 29,000 jobs supported by the project across the UK.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager, Billy Ahluwalia, said:

“HS2 will transform journeys across the UK, boosting the economy and unlocking more space on our existing rail network. But it’s also important that we minimise disruption during construction.

“That’s why we brought forward construction of this span, so it could be done during the school summer holidays when we knew traffic would be lighter. It’s great to see the span complete and I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard over the last 3-weeks to get it done.”

The viaduct is being built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Align's Surface Operations Director, Derek van Rensburg, said:

“Having the flexibility to introduce a crane to complete the span across Moorhall Road during the summer holidays rather than using the launching girder, thereby minimising the impact on the local community, is all credit to the Align team involved, working with our supply chain partners and in particular VSL, which together delivered the work safely.”

Set low into the landscape, the widest spans are reserved for where the viaduct crosses the lakes, with narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement the natural surroundings.

The design was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes.

The road reopened on Friday.  

The enormous 2,000 tonne machines have spent two years excavating the twin tunnels between the M25 and South Heath in Buckinghamshire that will help improve connections between London, Birmingham and the North.

Each machine is a 170m long self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with 56,000 concrete segments to form rings and grouting them into place as it moves forward.

Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, the first TBMs were launched in Summer 2021 from a site near the M25 and have already excavated approximately 2 million cubic metres of chalk and flint.

As well as digging and lining the tunnels, engineers have also completed the excavation of five shafts that will provide ventilation and emergency access near Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham and Little Missenden with an intervention shaft at Chesham Road.

The 35m deep shaft near Little Missenden – which the TBMs have now reached – is next to the A413 about half a mile from the Buckinghamshire village.

A ‘headhouse’ will be built on top of the shaft to house ventilation and safety equipment, designed to resemble local farm buildings with new planting to help blend it into the surrounding landscape.

The news comes just weeks after planning consent was granted by Buckinghamshire Council for the North Portal of the tunnel under Schedule 17 of the HS2 Act, meaning that all major design elements now have consent.

David Emms, HS2 Ltd’s Project Client, said:

“HS2 will transform rail journeys between London the midlands and the north, and free up space on the existing network for more freight and local services. We’re seeing great progress on the tunnel, which will take our trains deep under the Chiltern hills, safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above and significantly reducing disruption to communities.

“The huge progress that Florence and Cecilia have made would not have possible without a huge team in support - manufacturing the tunnel segments, excavating the vent shafts and I’d like to thank everyone involved.”

The two TBMs are operated by, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Each machine has a crew of around 15 people, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Daniel Altier, Align’s Project Director, said:

“Both TBMs reaching our fourth shaft at Little Missenden is a great achievement for not only the tunnelling team and the team involved in excavating and preparing the shaft, but also the supporting teams on the surface at the South Portal, manufacturing the concrete segments required to line the tunnel and processing the spoil from the tunnels.”

“In particular I would like to pay credit to Align Shafts team, working with our supply chain partners and Keltbray, who have been working over the last few months to ensure the shaft is ready for the arrival of Florence and Cecilia.”

Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material – mostly chalk and flint - will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping. Once construction is complete, the temporary buildings at the south portal will be removed and the site landscaped with around 90 hectares of wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats.

Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of southeast England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns.

HS2 currently has five TBMs in the ground, with a further five due to be launched over the coming years. Together they will create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham.

The geographical reach of HS2’s growing supply chain, which currently encompasses over 3,000 UK-based businesses, means people who were out of work in Wales, the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber and the South East are among those to have secured jobs helping to build Britain’s new railway.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said:

"Helping more than 3,000 unemployed people into work is a huge achievement and it gives me great pride to see this revolutionary infrastructure project generating thousands of high-skilled jobs right across the UK.

"Not only is HS2 helping people develop new, exciting careers, but once delivered, it will transform rail journeys for generations to come by connecting our communities and offering a greener way of travelling."

Through partnerships with local authorities, employment support services and charities, HS2 is working collaboratively to support people who want to work but need additional support or training.

Dedicated HS2 Skills Academies, run in partnership with local training providers and colleges, are delivering hundreds of free training programmes to help people build new skills. In tandem, HS2’s contractors provide work trials to give prospective candidates an insight into the industry, helping them to understand the career pathways and progression opportunities.

Training programmes have so far helped candidates to launch careers in ecology, planning, CAD and Design, engineering, plant operations and support functions including finance and community engagement.

Natalie Penrose, HS2’s Head of Legacy said:

“We’re exceptionally proud that we’ve helped over 3,000 unemployed people in England and Wales start a new career on HS2. Whether through apprenticeships, specialist fast-track training programmes, or referrals from our partner agencies, every candidate has gained new skills and vital work experience that will put them on track for a promising future.”

HS2’s construction has also played a pivotal role in helping University graduates to transition straight into careers aligned to their specialist subject areas. Over 250 students moved straight in to graduate-level roles with HS2’s construction partners after finishing their studies.

Among those to have launched a new career is 26-year-old Alisha Bhakta from Birmingham. Alisha graduated from De Montfort University Leicester with an Honours degree in English Language and Literature. She spent months trying to find a job that reflected her skillset or offered career progression opportunities.

The chance to start a work placement with Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, sparked the career turnaround she was looking for. After completing her placement in 2020, Alisha immediately secured a permanent role in BBV’s document control team where she continued to impress. Now, three years on, she’s secured two promotions and transitioned into a role in information management, where she has line management responsibilities and the opportunity to expand her team.

Alisha said:

“I would never have considered that a career in construction might be for me, but that’s the great thing about a project of HS2’s size and scale, as there are so many opportunities.

“I work with a fantastic team at BBV and my confidence has grown. Moving out of my comfort zone and into something new has really helped me, and my career, to progress.”

Paul-Kelly Blazquez (PK) from Birmingham is also climbing the career ladder at BBV. After struggling to find work, he seized the opportunity to join BBV on a four-week work placement and hasn’t looked back.

PK was initially referred to BBV by Remploy, a local charity that supports people with disabilities and matches them to companies that can support their needs. Over the last five years, his career at BBV has flourished. PK completed a two-year business administration apprenticeship, was promoted into a new role in IT, and now leads his own team who are tasked with ensuring that all BBV’s online applications run smoothly.

PK said:

“I’ve received so much support from the team at BBV. They have helped me to develop a career doing what I love and working in IT.

“I’ve progressed from being a trainee, to an apprentice, right up to being a team leader, and now I get to support our new apprentices on their career journey.”

HS2's construction partner Align JV is also helping unemployed people to launch new careers. As a Covid Graduate, Queenie Villarente had been struggling to find a role that suited her studies in Engineering. After many unsuccessful applications, she secured a space on Align's pre-employment programme at the end of 2020. The programme specifically supported women who were looking to start a career in Construction, and  Queenie was introduced to a resourcing manager who helped her to secure a position working on HS2 as a Plant Clerk.  

Since joining Align, Queenie’s career has developed rapidly. She is now operating as a TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) Control Room and Data Engineer.

 Queenie, from Hillingdon said:

“My experience at Align so far has been amazing. The environment in which I work is definitely a good place for growth and development. It’s a place where my voice and opinion matters, with every day offering new challenges and opportunities. I work as part of a team which is very united, working together to achieve our goals. I am very happy to be part of what is a fantastic project.”

For more information about careers and opportunities on HS2, visit hs2.org.uk/careers

One year after the launch of HS2’s giant ‘bridge-building machine’, progress on the UK’s longest railway bridge has taken another major step forward with the completion of the first piers that will carry the viaduct over a series of lakes just outside London.

The Colne Valley Viaduct – which is being built near Hillingdon - will carry high speed trains more than two miles (3.4km) across the Grand Union Canal, River Colne, local roads and a series of lakes between the end of the London tunnels and the start of the Chiltern tunnels.

For the last year, a 700-tonne ‘launch girder’ – the only one of its kind in the UK - has been assembling giant pre-cast concrete segments to form the first 1 km of the viaduct deck along the edge of the valley.

Now the first enormous v-shaped piers have been completed in the lake, to allow the viaduct to curve eastward, over the water. The ‘V piers’ – each weighing in at 1,800 tonnes – will support a row of elegant arches inspired by the flight of a stone skimming over the surface of the water.

To allow for the gentle curve of the viaduct, each of the one thousand segments that form the arches and deck are slightly different – and all are manufactured at a temporary factory set up close by, with direct access to the M25.

Construction of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and the North, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel, is ramping up across the UK with almost 30,000 jobs now supported by the project.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2 Ltd Project Client David Emms said:

“The Colne Valley Viaduct will form a key part of the HS2 route – helping to deliver better connections across the UK, free up rail capacity on the existing network, and offer passengers zero carbon travel options. That’s why it’s great to see so much progress over the last 12 months and especially the completion of the piers that will allow the girder to head out over the lakes later this year.

“I’d like to thank all those involved in getting us to this exciting stage and look forward to seeing the whole viaduct come together over the coming years.”

Known as a ‘launching girder’, the 160m long bridge-building machine is used to lift the giant concrete deck segments that form the viaduct’s arches into position. Once each section is complete, the machine inches itself forward to build the next stage.

The huge viaduct project is being led by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick working with key suppliers including VSL, Kilnbridge, Tarmac and KVJV.

Originally built in 2004, the launching girder was first used during the construction of the Hong Kong East Tsing Yi Viaduct. Specially designed to handle complex viaduct construction, the machine is named ‘Dominique’ in memory of Bouygues engineer Dominique Droniou who played a leading role in its design and development.

In the last year, it has installed over 300 out of 1,000 segments required to complete the viaduct deck, installing up to three pairs of segments each day

Align Project Director, Daniel Altier commented:

“I am delighted that by working as an integrated team with our supply chain partners, we have been able to erect nearly a third of the deck and complete the first V pier, just a year since Dominique starting operating.

What has been achieved would not have been possible without the support of the different teams across the project including; Quality, Lifting, Safety, Consents, Environment, Surveying and also Earthworks, for maintaining the haul road on which the 60 -140 tonne segments are transported from our factory to meet the girder.”

Designed to bear the weight of the 80m wide arches over the lakes, the ‘v-piers’ are twice as large as simpler piers that carry the viaduct over land.

Cast in place using a series of giant moulds, each pier has a separate tower crane, with a temporary access bridge linking them with the main construction site. Cofferdams were used to hold back the water while the 60m deep foundations were built into the bed of the lakes.

Each pier weighs around 1,800 tonnes and took nine months to complete. To help the engineers master the complex shape of the pier, a mock-up was built off site before work began on the real piers. In total, 11 ‘v-piers’ will support the viaduct over water with a further 45 piers on land.

Once the piers are ready, deck segments will be placed alternately on each side, using a cantilever approach to balance the structure, as two half-arches are constructed simultaneously. Steel tensioning cables are then threaded through the segments to strengthen the bridge

Hidden low into the landscape between Great Missenden and South Heath in Buckinghamshire, the North Portal will only be partially visible from a footbridge over the railway to the north.Once construction is complete, the seven ‘Key Design Elements’ will be the only parts of the tunnel visible to the local community.

Alongside the North Portal, which will be near South Heath in Buckinghamshire, they include the South Portal, near the M25, and headhouses above the ventilation and emergency access shafts, which are mostly designed to resemble agricultural buildings.

The design work has been completed by HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick, working with its design partners Jacobs, Rendel-Ingerop and LDA Design, and its architect Grimshaw.

Construction of the twin tunnels, which will stretch for 10 miles under the Chiltern hills, recently passed the halfway point, with two giant tunnelling machines currently between Amersham and Little Missenden.

Today’s reveal of the last of the Key Design Elements for the tunnel represent a double milestone for Align who are also responsible for the Colne Valley Viaduct, meaning that they have completed their entire Detailed Design including designs for all of the Key Design Elements.

HS2 Ltd’s Design Director Kay Hughes said:

“HS2 will provide zero-carbon journeys across the UK, improving links between London, Birmingham and the North, while freeing up space for more freight and local services on the existing main line.

“The Chiltern Tunnel North Portal will be one of the least visible parts of the project, but today’s reveal of the final designs is a major symbolic milestone – and I’d like to congratulate Align on getting all their Key Design Elements to this final stage of development.”

Hidden low into the landscape between Great Missenden and South Heath in Buckinghamshire, the North Portal will only be partially visible from a footbridge over the railway to the north.

Two perforated concrete hoods will cover the track, extending the tunnel into the open air. These ‘porous portals’ will avoid sudden changes in air pressure – and resulting noise – caused by trains entering and exiting the tunnels.

Alongside the portals, there will also be a simple single-storey ancillary building to house mechanical and electrical equipment which will be clad in earth-coloured pigmented zinc. Following feedback from the community, this building has been reduced in size and will now feature a green roof to help further blend the infrastructure into the landscape.

The headhouses about the ventilation and emergency access shafts at Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham, Little Missenden and Chesham Road are also designed to blend into the landscape, with many echoing the look of local barns and other of agricultural buildings.

Align’s Technical Director, Alan Price said:

“This is a significant achievement for both Align and our design partners in Align D, that is led by Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel. Having the design on the shelf releases procurement and allows complete flexibility to optimise the construction programme.”

To the north of the tunnel, the new high speed line will be set into a cutting for 1.8 miles (3km) on its approach to the Wendover Dean Viaduct, with more than 20 hectares of new woodland, shrubs and wildflowers planted to help blend the railway into the surrounding countryside. The species chosen will be typical to the Chilterns including Beech, Oak, Yew, Holly and Dog Rose.

Running alongside what will become the UK’s longest viaduct, the temporary bridge allows construction vehicles to cross a series of lakes and waterways near Denham on the outskirts of London.

Construction of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and North, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel, is ramping up across the UK with almost 30,000 jobs now supported by the project.

As well as taking vehicles off local roads, the 800m long temporary bridge, completed in February 2022, is also used to get equipment out to where the viaducts piers are being built in the lake.

Lorries making deliveries to site all arrive from the M25 and follow a 6km internal access route via HS2’s South Portal construction site, and the temporary bridge, instead of using local roads - significantly reducing the impact on the local community during construction.

It was built by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, working with specialist subcontractors KVJV, Kilnbridge, VSL, Tarmac, VPH and Volker Stevin, who are constructing the Colne Valley Viaduct.

HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager, Billy Ahluwalia said:

“The Colne Valley Viaduct will form a key part of the HS2 route – helping to deliver better connections across the UK, free up rail capacity on the existing train network, and offer passengers zero carbon travel options.

“But it is also essential that we work to reduce the impact on communities during construction. That’s why I’m delighted to see that the temporary access road has taken so many vehicle journeys off local roads in it’s first year of operation.”

Construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct is now well underway, with all the foundation pilling for the 56 piers and 2 abutments now complete.

The main deck of the viaduct is being built using a ‘launching girder’. The 160m long bridge-building machine is the only one of its kind operating in the UK and is used to lift the giant concrete deck segments that form the viaduct’s arches into position which are being cast in purpose-built temporary factory at the nearby South Portal site. The girder moves from pier to pier constructing the deck as it goes.

Almost 200, out of a thousand deck segments, have now been installed, with each one weighing up to 140 tonnes. To allow for the gentle curve of the viaduct as it crosses the valley, each segment is unique.

Align’s Surface Operations Director, Derek van Rensberg said:

“We are making good progress constructing the Colne Valley Viaduct, and by completing the temporary access road with bridges over the lakes, I am delighted that it has resulted in a significant number of vehicles being taken off local roads, thereby minimising the impact of our activities on the local community.”  

Their financial support for this year’s event, which takes place on 8-9th March, will help to ensure hundreds of school pupils can participate in interactive careers sessions and discover the world of opportunities available to them. EKFB, Align and Flannery will also be promoting all their latest job vacancies at an open-doors event, suitable for all ages, which takes place from 16.00 – 20.00 on Wednesday, 8 March.

Jhen-Nel Swanston, HS2’s Skills Manager for the region said:

“We’re delighted that our construction partners have stepped forward to support this important event for the local community.

“it’s a great opportunity for young people to learn about the careers and skillsets needed to build HS2, from ecologists and archaeologists to civil engineers and project managers. We hope to inspire the next generation and encourage even more local people to play their part in this transformational project, now and in the future.”

Both EKFB and Align will also be offering pupils the chance to join them this summer for a unique work experience placement, as well as hosting careers conversations to enable students to learn more about the stages involved in designing and building the railway.

Lilia Frunzo, Skills, Education and Employment Manager at Align joint venture said:

“Align is delighted to support this important local event. It allows us the opportunity to showcase all the fantastic opportunities available for young people on HS2, which is Europe’s largest infrastructure project.”

Paddy Patterson, Skills, Education and Employment Manager at EKFB joint venture said:

“EKFB is proud to be sponsoring this important event and we’re looking forward to meeting attendees, answering questions about long-term career progression and inspiring our local communities to join us on this journey.”

Both EKFB and Align are actively recruiting for local talent and encourage anyone searching for an apprenticeship, or a new career opportunity, to visit their exhibitions stands at the Bucks Skills Show’s evening event on 8th March.

Details of all the latest career opportunities working on HS2 an also be found at hs2.org.uk/careers

Each machine is a 170m long self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with 56,000 concrete segments to form rings and grouting them into place as it moves forward.

Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, the first TBMs were launched in Summer 2021 from a site near the M25 and have excavated more than 1.8 million cubic metres of chalk and flint.

As well as digging and lining the tunnels, engineers have also completed the excavation of five shafts that will provide ventilation and emergency access near Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham, Little Missenden and an intervention shaft at Chesham Road.

The 44m deep shaft at Amersham – which the TBMs have now passed - will be in the middle of a road junction just outside the Buckinghamshire town. A ‘headhouse’ will be built on top of the shaft to house safety equipment, with a flint-faced boundary wall and a pre-patinated zinc roof to help match the natural tones of the surrounding landscape.

Once complete, trains will pass through the tunnel at speeds of up to 320km/h, providing zero carbon journeys between London, Birmingham and the north while freeing up capacity on the existing rail network.

Martyn Noak, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnel Engineering, said:

“The Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underground and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above the tunnel as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway.

“I’ve been very impressed with the progress made by Florence and Cecilia as they make their way unseen beneath the Chiltern Hills.  It’s great to see how much progress they and the teams excavating the five shafts have made and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us this far.”

The two TBMs are operated by, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Each machine has a crew of 17 people, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Coralie Peroux, Tunnel Manager, Align

‘Florence and Cecilia reaching our third shaft at Amersham is a great achievement for not only the tunnelling team and the team involved in excavating and preparing the shaft, but also the supporting teams on the surface at the South Portal, manufacturing the concrete segments required to line the tunnel and processing the spoil from the tunnels.”

“In particular I would like to pay credit to Steve Meecham and our Align Shafts team, working with our supply chain partners KVJV and Keltbray, who have been working tirelessly over the last few months to ensure the shaft is ready for the arrival of Florence and Cecilia.”   

Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material – mostly chalk and flint - will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping. Once construction is complete, the temporary buildings at the south portal will be removed and the site landscaped with around 90 hectares of new wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats.

Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of southeast England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns.

HS2 currently has five TBMs in the ground, with a further five due to be launched over the coming years. Together they will create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham.

HS2 Ltd today confirmed that ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’, the two giant tunnelling machines excavating the high speed rail project’s longest tunnels, have passed the halfway point on their 10 mile journey under the Chilterns.

The enormous 2,000 tonne machines have spent the last 18 months excavating the twin tunnels between the M25 and South Heath in Buckinghamshire that will help protect the environment while improving connections between London, Birmingham and the North.

As well as digging and lining the tunnels, engineers have also completed the excavation of five shafts that will provide ventilation and emergency access near Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham, Little Missenden and Chesham Road. They also recently completed the first breakthrough from a cross passageway to the shaft at Chalfont St Peter.

More than 1.3 million cubic metres of chalk and flint – enough to fill more than 500 Olympic swimming pools - has been excavated and will be used as part of an ambitious chalk grassland restoration project at the south portal of the tunnel. This will see the creation of 127 hectares of new landscaping, wildlife habitat and biodiverse chalk grassland.

Once complete, the Chiltern tunnels will carry high speed trains between London and the North at speeds of up to 200mph (320km/h), helping to improve connections, free up space for more freight and local trains on the existing railway and provide zero carbon journeys for people across the UK.

Martyn Noak, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnel Engineering, said:

“It’s great to be able to celebrate the half-way point of this 10-mile long tunnel.  The whole team has put in a fantastic effort over the last year-and-a-half and I’d like to congratulate the crews of both Florence and Cecilia for passing this important tunnelling milestone and thank them for all their hard work”

“This tunnel will take HS2 underneath the Chiltern hills, safeguarding the woodlands and wildlife habits above ground as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation.  Once complete, HS2 will offer low carbon journey options linking London with the major cities of the north and releasing capacity for more freight and local trains on our existing mainlines.”

HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick is responsible for the Chiltern tunnel and nearby Colne Valley Viaduct.

Didier Jacques, Align's Underground Construction Director, said:

“Florence and Cecilia passing the half-way point on what is a long drive for the TBMs, is a great achievement. I would like to pay credit to TGT, our supply chain partner, whose personnel are manning the TBMs.

This significant progress would not have been possible without the supporting teams on the surface at the South Portal, who supply the thousands of 8.5 tonne segments required to line the tunnels, process the spoil pumped back as slurry through our slurry treatment plant and landscape the chalk produced across the site.  Overall, a great team effort.’  

Designed specifically for the mix of chalk and flints under the Chilterns, the two identical TBMs are excavating separate tunnels for north and southbound trains. The excavated material is mixed with water to form a slurry, before being pumped back to the surface.

Each machine operates as a self-contained underground factory - digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and grouting them into place at a speed of around 15 meters a day. More than 56,000 precision-engineered, fibre-reinforced segments have been installed to create the walls of the tunnels – with each one made on site in a dedicated temporary pre-cast factory.

A crew of 17 people operate each TBM, working in shifts to keep the machines running 24/7. They are supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

As well as the Chiltern tunnels, HS2 also recently launched two TBMs to begin the project’s London tunnels and celebrated the first breakthrough with the completion of the first of two tunnels under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire.

Once complete, the 2.1 miles (3.4km) bridge will carry the new high-speed rail line across a series of lakes and waterways near Hillingdon on the north-west outskirts of London.

The construction of the foundations, the 56 huge piers and the deck on top, have all been happening in parallel – with separate teams working from north to south. Deck assembly began last year, with more than 500 meters of the viaduct structure now complete.

In order to deliver the 66 piles in the lakebed, the team first had to construct over a kilometer of temporary jetties, with cofferdams to hold back the water around each set of foundations. The jetties are also used to transport materials and equipment during the construction of the piers and viaduct deck, keeping vehicles off local roads.

Construction of the HS2 project - which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and North, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel - is ramping up across the UK with almost 30,000 jobs now supported by the project.

HS2 Ltd’s Project Client, David Emms said:

“Once complete, HS2 will transform journeys across the UK, help to boost the economy and support the UK’s transition to net zero.

“The completion of the piling for the Colne Valley Viaduct is a major achievement for our whole team and marks the end of almost two years of hard work. With pier construction and deck assembly also well underway, the viaduct is fast becoming one of the most impressive and recognisable parts of the project.”

The viaduct is being built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick, working with its contractor KVJV– who spent almost two years on the piling. KVJV is a team made up of Keller Group and VSL International.

On top of each group of piles – some of which are to a depth of 60m into the ground - a concrete pile cap will support the pier which will in turn support the weight of the bridge structure above. Instead of hammering the piles into the ground, holes were bored before being backfilled to create the piles.

The main deck of the viaduct is being built in 1,000 separate segments at a temporary factory nearby and assembled using a bridge-building machine which lifts each piece into position before shifting itself forward to the next pier. 

Align’s Surface Operations Director, Derek van Rensburg said:

“Completing the piling is a great achievement for both Align and the team at KVJV, working over the lakes and waterways across the Colne Valley. We were able to complete the piling with no significant impact on the environment, a great result for the whole team.”

Set low into the landscape, the widest spans reserved for where the viaduct crosses the lakes, and narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement the natural surroundings.

The design was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

HS2 worked closely with Affinity Water and the Environment Agency to monitor water quality and agree working methods. These were monitored by a team of specialist engineers during construction in order to protect the natural environment.

Before work began, an extensive programme of test piling was completed with engineers sinking 12 piles at two locations with geological and structural data from these tests fed back into the design of the viaduct. This resulted in a 10-15% reduction in the depth of the piles and associated time and cost savings.

The total number of new starters has reached 1,126, putting the company building Britain’s new railway on track to smash its target of creating 2,000 apprenticeships.

In September 2020 when construction began on the first phase of the project, linking the capital and the West Midlands, HS2 forecast that it would create 22,000 jobs in the coming years. Its skilled workforce has now reached nearly 30,000, with thousands more jobs supported across the country in the wider supply chain.

With three further phases of HS2’s construction in the pipeline, extending the new zero carbon railway to Crewe, Manchester and the East Midlands will provide a further boost to the UK’s economy and the Government’s levelling up agenda, years before the first trains run.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said:

“HS2’s benefits clearly go far beyond improving connectivity and this is another great example of how it is changing lives across the country.”

“The apprenticeship programme is an incredible opportunity for people starting their career, giving them the chance to work on the biggest infrastructure project in Europe while ensuring this pioneering project is being spearheaded by the very best new talent.”

The demand for HS2 apprenticeships has grown exponentially since the pandemic, with 715 new starters recorded since March 2020. The vast range of courses on offer, at intermediate to degree level, is proving attractive to career movers and college leavers seeking to specialise in roles from carpentry and cyber security to tunnelling operatives and environmental technicians.

Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd, who began his career as an apprentice said:

“It’s great news that we’ve passed the halfway mark and are well on our way to achieve our target of 2,000 apprenticeships at HS2. Creating early career opportunities and investing in the development of a skilled workforce delivers both immediate and long-term benefits to the UK economy, as well as giving us the opportunity to become a world-leader in high speed rail.

“Every person at the heart of that investment is helping to transform our railways and make city to city travel cleaner, greener and more reliable for future generations. There’s a great sense of pride about what we’re achieving at HS2, including the legacy that we're creating.”

The ability to earn, learn and gain nationally recognised qualifications adds to the appeal of an apprenticeship and is what attracted HS2’s 1,000th apprentice, Jessica Miles, to start a new career.

30-year-old Jessica from Cockfosters, North London, worked in retail fashion for six years and climbed the ladder to management level. She had always been interested in a career in Human Resources but found it difficult to secure a job without the relevant qualifications or industry experience.

In 2022, Jessica joined HS2’s construction partner Align joint venture on a two-year Level 5 HR Consultant apprenticeship, where she combines work with study at West Herts College. It was the new start she was looking for, and the move has put her on track to secure the CIPD qualifications and work experience needed to build a long term career in the sector. 

Jessica said:

“It just goes to show that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. I was 30 when I started my apprenticeship, but my college education meant I was able to begin studying at Level 5, so I’m on track to gain a fantastic qualification that will really boost my career.

“I’m working on the biggest infrastructure project in Europe, helping to recruit a talented workforce to deliver the amazing construction challenges I see in front of me every day. I’m not just building my career, but helping thousands of others too, and we’re all working together to deliver this once in a lifetime project. It’s amazing!”

Every year, HS2 and its construction partners invest in bringing more apprentices into the business. Career pathways are now supported in over 40 different apprenticeship types, with education and training provided by colleges and universities across the country.

Investing in skills, employment and education is one of seven strategic objectives set out by HS2 to ensure the project leaves a lasting skills legacy. Through initiatives set out in its Skills, Employment and Education Strategy, HS2 is making great progress in its bid to upskill and create careers, not just jobs, for the thousands of people already on board.

Construction of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and the North, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel, is ramping up across the UK with almost 30,000 jobs now supported by the project.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said:

“This is an extraordinary feat of engineering and architecture, designed to enable spectacular views across a beautiful part of our British countryside which is being preserved and protected by this project.

“It was incredible to be the first person to officially walk on top of it today – another milestone for this monumental project which will transform journeys for people up and down the country, creating almost 30,000 jobs and providing a low carbon alternative to cars for decades to come.”

Known as a ‘launching girder’, the 160m long bridge-building machine is the only one of its kind operating in the UK and is used to lift the giant concrete deck segments that form the viaduct’s arches into position. Once each section is complete, the machine inches itself forward to build the next stage.

The first 141 - out of a thousand - deck segments are now in position, with each one weighing up to 140 tonnes. To allow for the gentle curves of the viaduct as it crosses the valley, all the segments are slightly different shapes and made on site at a purpose-built temporary factory close to the north abutment.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2 Ltd Project Client David Emms said:

“After seven months of hard work, it’s great to be able to finally be able to walk on part of the Colne Valley Viaduct. Once complete, this record-breaking structure will form a key part of the HS2 route – helping to deliver better connections across the UK, free up rail capacity on the existing train network, and offer passengers zero carbon travel options.

“I’d like to thank all those involved in getting us to this exciting stage and look forward to seeing the whole viaduct come together over the coming years.”

The huge viaduct project is being led by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Originally built in 2004, the launching girder was first used during the construction of the Hong Kong East Tsing Yi Viaduct. Specially designed to handle complex viaduct construction, the machine is named ‘Dominique’ in memory of Bouygues engineer Dominique Droniou who played a leading role in its design and development.

Align Project Director, Daniel Altier, said:

“The team at Align, along with supply-chain partners VSL, Kilnbridge, KVJV, VolkerStevin, Tarmac, Sendin andVaughan Plant Haulage, have worked incredibly hard to get us to this point. They have demonstrated exceptional teamwork and expertise and I’m incredibly proud of what they have achieved so far. In particular, the successful completion of the A412 crossing which involved collaboration with multiple stakeholders to minimise disruption to our local community.”

56 piers each weighing around 370 tonnes are being constructed along the Colne Valley ahead of the girder, with the machine moving from one pier to the next, installing the deck segments as it goes.

Segments are placed alternately on each side of the pier, using a cantilever approach to balance the structure, as two half-arches are constructed simultaneously. Steel tensioning cables are then threaded through the segments to strengthen the bridge.

The viaduct pre-cast factory where the one thousand segments are made uses a ‘match-casting’ technique. This approach - where each segment is poured against the previous one - will ensure the whole deck fits perfectly when assembled on the piers. Up to 12 segments a week can be cast at the mammoth 100m long factory, which has an internal volume of 105,000 cubic metres – making it larger than the Royal Albert Hall.

Once construction is complete, the factory and surrounding buildings will be removed and the whole area between the viaduct and the Chiltern tunnel will be transformed into an area of chalk grassland and woodland as part of HS2’s ‘green corridor’ project.

The design of the Colne Valley Viaduct was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

Set low into the landscape, wider spans will carry the viaduct crosses the lakes, with narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement views across the natural surroundings.

In the next step on its journey towards fully diesel-free construction sites by 2029, HS2 has announced that 10 sites are now diesel-free, smashing the project’s original target of one diesel-free site in 2022.

Earlier this year, the Canterbury Road Vent Shaft in South Kilburn, managed by Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV), became HS2’s first diesel-free site. Also managed by SCS, the Euston Approaches and Victoria Road Crossover Box sites have achieved diesel-free status.

Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick, have also announced that seven of their 14 sites are now diesel-free. These include five vent shaft sites along the route of the 10 mile Chiltern tunnels in Buckinghamshire, and two sites involved in the construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct.

Transport Minister Huw Merriman said:

“HS2 will help to transform the future of construction, decarbonise transport and help us deliver Net Zero, and leave as little trace as possible by planting millions of trees and creating innovative, low-carbon solutions for removing waste from construction sites.

“This is yet another important milestone in the journey towards diesel-free construction, as HS2 ensures this project has a minimal impact on the environment and local communities while transforming journeys for decades to come.”

To explain how the project will continue on its journey to achieve 100% diesel-free construction sites by 2029, HS2 has published its ‘Diesel-free Plan: Building a net zero future’. It details HS2's journey to diesel-free construction sites and a new ratings system which ranks all sites from diamond to bronze, so progress can be mapped over the next few years.

Andrea Davidson, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Environmental Sciences said:

“Our ambitious goal is to eliminate diesel on all HS2 construction sites by 2029. One of the first targets in our Net Zero Carbon Plan was to achieve one diesel-free site during 2022, so we’re thrilled to see ten sites already reaching this major milestone supported through the hard work from our on-site teams.

“Our ‘Diesel-free Plan: Building a net zero future’ explains how we will reach our goal by improving efficiencies, switching to cleaner fuels, using renewable power such as solar, using the latest cleanest and fully-electric machinery, and continuing to collaborate with the wider industry to set new standards and push the boundaries of green innovation.”

After achieving the first diesel-free site on the HS2 project in May, SCS JV aim to be fully diesel-free by the end of 2023 using a combination of mains electricity, fully electric machines, renewable energy and biofuels.

Their first site - Canterbury Road Vent Shaft in South Kilburn, is connected to mains electricity on a 100% renewable energy tariff. This powers one of the UK’s first 160 tonne emissions-free fully electric crawler crane, as well as other electric plant such as electric compressors, with the rest of the machinery using sustainably sourced biofuels (HVO) as a direct replacement for diesel.

At HS2’s Euston Approaches, also managed by SCS JV, the world’s first all-electric, high-capacity BAUER drilling rig cuts 1,200kg of CO2 per day and reduces noise by 50%, bringing massive environmental benefits and adding momentum to HS2’s ambition to cut carbon and reduce impacts to surrounding residents.

In addition, one of the tower cranes in the Euston Area has been fitted with the PUNCH Flybrid ‘flywheel’ energy recovery system, which stores and kinetic energy to use when needed to downscale peak energy demand and therefore cut energy consumption. This technology recently won the award for the Carbon Net Zero Initiative of the Year and the overall Initiative of the Year Awards at the British Construction Industry Awards.

SCS’s third diesel-free site, Victoria Road Crossover Box has a mains electricity connection, is deploying electric equipment and making use of sustainably sourced biofuels (HVO). The site recently successfully completed trials for two GeoPura 250kVA hydrogen power units (HPUs) – cutting carbon and improving air quality for workers and the local community.

James Richardson, Managing Director of SCS JV said:

“We are proud to be pioneers of diesel-free construction, and we are committed to seeking out and adopting new technology and ways of working to eliminate diesel on construction sites. This all starts with a shift in mindset and a belief that our industry can have a cleaner, greener future."

As well as seven of Align’s 14 sites becoming diesel-free, their 136 acres (80 football pitches) Chiltern Tunnels South Portal, HS2’s largest construction site, is also well on its way to becoming 100% diesel-free next year. On the site, over 120 pieces of plant including dumpers, tractors, excavators, pumps and crushers are all operating using sustainably sourced biofuels (HVO).

In addition, there’s a range of fully electric plant such as telehandlers and excavators, renewable energy sources such as solar, and site safety gates powered by hydrogen, all reducing carbon impacts and improving local air quality.

Adetunji Lawal, Align JV’s Carbon and Energy Manager said:

“Our strategy is to move to diesel-free operations across all of our construction sites, so we’re thrilled to say that half of our sites are now diesel-free. In addition, on our extensive Chiltern Tunnel South Portal site, all of the earthworks activities that represent 70% of our fuel consumption are now 100% diesel free. We estimate that Align will be able to deliver carbon savings that equate to 80,000 tonnes by the end of the project, supporting HS2’s zero carbon ambitions.”

HS2’s ‘Diesel-free Plan: net zero future’ explains how the project will achieve 100% diesel-free construction sites by 2029, and details a new ratings system which ranks all sites from diamond to bronze, so progress can be mapped over the next few years. Progress will be reported in the Environmental and Sustainability Progress Reports in future years.

It highlights that by the end of 2022, all joint ventures working on the HS2 Main Work Civils will have a plan in place to accelerate their own diesel-free ambitions. Through 2023, HS2 will continue to facilitate green innovation trials on its sites, aiming to achieve additional diesel-free sites. Between 2024 and 2029, HS2 will continue to work with the industry to pioneer cleaner and greener ways of working, unblock challenges and increase the use of reliable, proven diesel-free alternatives.

Two enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines digging HS2’s longest tunnels passed the second of five ventilation shafts this week, 4 miles into their 10 mile drive under the Chilterns.

The milestone comes a week after the launch of another giant TBM in Ruislip which begin excavating the London tunnels for the high speed rail project linking the capital with the Midlands and the North.

Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, the first TBMs – named Florence and Cecilia – were launched in Summer 2021 from the southern portal of the tunnels.

Each machine is a 170m long self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete segments to form rings and grouting them into place as it moves forward.

More than 44,000 segments have been used to form the concrete rings that line the tunnels, with a further 68,000 set to be installed before the TBMs break out at the northern end of the tunnel in two years’ time.

The 46m deep shaft at Chalfont St Giles is one of four that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the ten-mile-long twin tunnels. A fifth will just provide emergency access. Once complete, the shaft will be covered by a headhouse designed to resemble local farm buildings.

More than 27,000 jobs are already being supported by HS2, which is designed to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

Martyn Noak, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnel Engineering, said:

“The Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underneath the hills and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above ground as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway.

“It’s great to see how much progress has been made by Florence and Cecilia – and the teams excavating the five shafts – and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us this far.”

These first two TBMs on the HS2 project are operated by, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Each machine has a crew of 17 people, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Didier Jacques, Align’s Underground Construction Director, said:

“Florence and Cecilia reaching our second shaft at Chalfont St Giles is a great achievement for the tunnelling team and I would like to pay credit to TGT, our supply chain partner, whose personnel are manning the TBMs.

It’s also important to acknowledge the work by the construction team involved in excavating and preparing the shaft. In particular I would like to pay credit to KVJV, VolkerLaser and Keltbray our supply chain partners, who have been working tirelessly over the last few months to ensure the shaft is ready for the arrival of Florence and Cecilia, learning from their experience of excavating and preparing our first shaft at Chalfont St Peter.”   

Each of the separate northbound and southbound tunnels will require 56,000 precision engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete segments – which are all being made in purpose build factories on site at the south portal, located just inside the M25.

Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material – mostly chalk and flint - will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping. So far more than 1m cubic metres have been placed on site. Once construction is complete, the temporary buildings at the south portal will be removed and the site landscaped with around 90 hectares of wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats.

Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of south east England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns.

In total there will be ten TBMs on the HS2 project - working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham.

The transformation of HS2’s largest construction site into a haven for wildlife reached a major milestone this week with the millionth cubic metre of chalk laid out around the south portal of the Chiltern tunnel.

The ambitious environmental project will eventually see 2.6 million cubic metres of chalk excavated during the construction of the 10 mile long tunnels used to create one of the largest areas of chalk grassland in the Chiltern hills.

Instead of removing the material by road, it is being used to landscape the site as part of plans to create 127 hectares of new chalk grassland, woodland, wood pasture and wetland habitats.

Welcoming the news, HS2 Ltd’s Environment Director Peter Miller said:

“The south portal project is one of the most important parts of our Green Corridor programme to establish better connected, sustainable and biodiverse landscapes along the route of the new railway and will contribute substantially to HS2’s carbon reduction target.

“It’s great to see how much chalk has already been laid on site and I look forward to seeing the site completely transform over the coming years.”

Chalk grassland – a type of calcareous grassland - is habitat of international conservation importance mainly found on limestone and chalk downlands of south-east England and the Isle of Wight.

Lime-rich, but low in nutrients, the thin soil holds little water and drains well. These conditions encourage a huge variety of smaller herbs and wildflowers and over 40 plant species can be found in one square metre of grassland, including some of the UK’s rarest orchids as well as highly diverse invertebrate populations. Only 700 hectares of chalk grassland exist across the whole of the Chilterns AONB.

The plans have been developed by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – working with its design partners Jacobs, Rendel-Ingerop, and LDA Design, that form Align D.

Chris Chantler, Align D, Design Director

“This innovative, multi-discipline project is providing a unique opportunity to create a huge expanse of new grassland using chalk being excavated from the Chiltern tunnels.

With the first million cubic metres of chalk having already been placed to create the grassland, we are well on the way to creating a landscape which will be both rich in diversity and a place for people to explore and connect with the natural environment.”

Two giant tunnelling machines – named Florence and Cecilia – are currently around 4 miles into their journey under the Chilterns. The material they excavate is mixed with water to form a slurry before being pumped out of the tunnel.

It is then processed at a slurry treatment plant at the south portal site where the flint is removed and water extracted, to leave chalk cake which is then carefully laid out on site – together with recycled concrete and aggregates from construction works - in order to create a naturalistic landscape with all the temporary construction buildings removed.

Ninety hectares of chalk grassland will be seeded into re-profiled soil layers. This will sit alongside new areas of woodland, wood pasture and wetlands, including almost 65,000 trees and shrubs of 32 species and nearly 3.5km of new hedgerows.

Around 4.5km of new footpath, cycling and horse-riding routes will give the public areas to large parts of the site, which sits between the Colne Valley Regional Park and the Chilterns AONB.

Field trials are in preparation ahead of final seeding, and planting of trees and shrubs in 2025.

The construction of HS2’s longest tunnels stretching for 10 miles under the Chilterns has begun a new phase with the start of work on thirty-eight cross passages linking the northbound and southbound tunnels.

The Chiltern tunnels will carry high speed trains between London and the North at speeds of up to 200mph (320km/h). The trains will travel through two parallel tunnels linked by short passages for use in emergencies.

With the two giant tunnelling machines – named Florence and Cecilia – now almost four miles into their journeys, attention has turned to the first cross passages.

An expert team of miners used a remotely controlled excavator to break out of and excavate from one running tunnel to the adjacent tunnel.  As the excavation is progressed the ground is supported using a sprayed concrete lining (SCL).

Delivered by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – each passage is between 15 and 20 metres in length.

Once the team had completed the SCL lined tunnel, a water-proof membrane was installed followed by a secondary concrete lining constructed by placing concrete behind formwork installed in the cross passage.

Martyn Noak, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnel Engineering, said:

“HS2 is making huge progress, with 25,000 jobs supported by the project, construction in full swing between London and Birmingham and now the start of this new phase of tunnelling work under the Chilterns.

“While invisible to the travelling public, the cross passages have a key role in providing a safe operational railway.  In an emergency they allow the safe evacuation of passengers into a place of relative safety – the other tunnel.  Constructing cross passages is different than using a tunnelling machine as the ground is excavated in short lengths with each advance being left unsupported for a short period of time until the sprayed concrete lining is installed.  It is a different set of risks and a specific skilled workforce is needed. 

“It’s great to see the first one complete and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in this important milestone, one down 37 to go.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“The completion of this cross passage is a significant milestone for the team at Align JV, delivering the first mined cross passage on HS2 phase 1. I’m proud of the team, their hard work and collaboration to get us to this point.  

“In partnership with our supply chain; KVJV responsible for the ground treatment, specialist contractor Euro Diamond Drilling and waterproofing specialist Renesco, the sub-surface team at Align have already commenced preparation work on several other cross passages and are making good progress.”

Once the passageway is complete, the safety doors can be installed at either end. These are being manufactured by Bolton-based Booth Industries who won the contract to provide more than 300 units for all the tunnels between London and Birmingham.

The win allowed Booth Industries to establish a new facility in the town and create up to 50 jobs over the next 10 years. The sliding doors have been subjected to rigorous fire and fatigue testing to take account of the train speeds, associated pressures and frequency of the trains. 

Each running tunnel has an emergency walkway that allows passengers to safely evacuate the train and walk through the cross passages into the other tunnel where they can be rescued on a passenger train. Access for emergency services is from either the portal or one of the five ventilation/emergency access shafts.

Set in the middle of a road junction just outside the town, the new designs will see the height of the circular single storey building reduced by more than two metres and the ‘crown’ of steel fins replaced with perforated pre-patinated zinc panels to help match the natural tones of the surrounding landscape.

Building on feedback and advice from Buckinghamshire Council, the new design will also see the weathered steel boundary wall replaced by a more traditional stone wall made of flint. The stone is naturally occurring within chalk hills like the Chilterns and flint facades have been a prominent feature of local architecture for hundreds of years.

The layout of the buildings will remain unchanged, with the spiral shaped walls echoing the shape of the site and the shaft beneath, while extra planting will be provided on the A413/A404 side of the site.

Kay Hughes, HS2 Ltd’s Design Director said: 
“The Amersham headhouse is one of the few parts of the Chiltern tunnel visible above ground so it’s important that we get the design right. LDA Landscape Architects and Grimshaw Architects have risen to the challenge with an exemplary design with local character.

“The curved form of the head house is sensitively nestled into the landscape of a local traffic island by the designers. This and the combination of natural and traditional materials provides a contextual relationship with the area’s longstanding architectural traditions and setting.”

The 10 mile long Chiltern tunnel is the longest on the HS2 project, which is designed to improve links between London, Birmingham and the north, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel.

Below ground level, the 38 metre deep Amersham ventilation shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

Once construction is complete, new tree planting will be added to frame views of the headhouse and areas will be set aside for chalk grassland to help create valuable new wildlife habitats. The new planting will focus on native species typically found across the Chilterns, such as wild cherry, buckthorn and crab apple.

The plans have been drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick - working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, architects Grimshaw and landscape designers, LDA Design.

Construction of the shaft is well underway, with the excavation complete and the site team moving on to the structural work inside the shaft.

Alan Price, Align Technical Director said:

“We are delighted to be revealing the updated designs for the Amersham vent shaft headhouse.

“It has been essential for our designers to listen to the local stakeholders to understand what is important to them, and to update the design accordingly. We believe the jointly developed new design sits more comfortably within its surroundings and pays homage to the traditional local architecture.” 

The revised plans for the headhouse are available on the community pages of HS2’s website, with local residents invited to attend a community information event on 7th July where they will be able to learn more about the design and construction of the vent shaft and headhouse.

A formal Schedule 17 application will be submitted to Buckinghamshire Council later in the summer.

The start of construction is the latest major milestone in the delivery of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and North, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel.

HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson said:

“Today, HS2 began construction on what’s set to be Britain’s longest railway viaduct, a landmark moment for HS2 and a feat of British engineering, taking the HS2 line from London, and into Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.   

“Infrastructure is the backbone of HS2 and this viaduct will be integral to delivering faster journeys and an increased capacity rail network.” 

Known as a ‘launching girder’, the 160m long bridge-building machine is the only one of its kind in the UK and will be used to lift the giant concrete deck segments that form the viaduct’s arches into position. Once each section is complete, the machine will inch itself forward into position to build the next stage.

A total of one thousand deck segments will be needed, with each one weighing up to 140 tonnes. To allow for the gentle curves of the viaduct as it crosses the valley, all the segments are slightly different shapes and made on site at a purpose-built temporary factory close to the north abutment.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston said:

“I’m absolutely delighted that we have started work to assemble the giant deck segments that will form the Colne Valley Viaduct. It is yet another big milestone for HS2 Ltd, as we work to deliver the UK’s new high speed railway. Once complete, this record-breaking structure will form a key part of the HS2 railway – helping to deliver better connections across the UK, free up rail capacity on the train network, and offer passengers a zero carbon travel option.

“I’d like to thank all those involved in getting us to this exciting stage and look forward to seeing the whole viaduct come together over the coming years.”

The huge viaduct project is being led by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Originally built in 2004, the launching girder was first used during the construction of the Hong Kong East Tsing Yi Viaduct. Specially designed to handle complex viaduct construction, the machine is named ‘Dominique’ in memory of Bouygues engineer Dominique Droniou who played a leading role in its design and development.

56 piers each weighing around 370 tonnes are being constructed along the Colne Valley ahead of the girder, with the girder moving from one pier to the next, installing the deck segments as it goes. One segment is put in place each side of the central pier, using a cantilever approach to balance the structure, as two half-arches either side of each pier are constructed simultaneously. Steel tensioning cables will be threaded through the segments to strengthen the bridge.

Every segment will be a slightly different shape depending on where it fits into the viaduct and the modular approach was chosen to ensure quality, safety and efficiency.

The viaduct pre-cast factory where the segments are made at the peak of construction will cast around 12 segments every week using a ‘match-casting’ technique. This approach - where each segment is poured against the previous one - will ensure the whole deck fits perfectly when assembled on the piers. The mammoth 100m long viaduct precast factory, which is visible from the M25, has an internal volume of 105,000 cubic metres – making it larger than the Royal Albert Hall.

Once construction is complete, the factory and surrounding buildings will be removed and the whole area between the viaduct and the Chiltern tunnel will be transformed into an area of chalk grassland and woodland as part of HS2’s ‘green corridor’ project.

Align Project Director, Daniel Altier said:

“The start of the erection of the deck segments marks the latest important milestone for Align, relating to the construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct.   

“There has been a lot of hard work involved to get us to this point, and the achievements so far are a great example of what collaboration and excellent teamwork can deliver. I would specifically like to acknowledge the contribution from our supply chain partners - VSL, Kilnbridge, KVJV, VolkerStevin, Tarmac, Sendin and Vaughan Plant Haulage.”

The design of the Colne Valley Viaduct was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

Set low into the landscape, wider spans will carry the viaduct crosses the lakes, with narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement views across the natural surroundings.

In another visible sign of progress on the project, the team have also completed the construction of three of four jetties across the lakes to get equipment into position to support the construction and help take construction vehicles off local roads. Where the viaduct crosses the lakes, the piles are being bored directly into the lakebed, using a cofferdam to hold back the water while the pier is constructed.

Two perforated concrete hoods will cover the track, extending the 10 mile long tunnel into the open air. These ‘porous portals’ will avoid sudden changes in air pressure – and resulting noise – caused by trains entering and exiting the tunnels.

Set low into the landscape between Great Missenden and South Heath in Buckinghamshire, the portals will only be visible from a footbridge over the railway to the north.

To allow for the different levels of air pressure, the portal for trains entering the tunnel will be 220m long, while the one for those exiting will be just 135m. Both will have smooth concrete on top and textured concrete to a low level, to reduce staining and maintenance.

Alongside the portals, there will also be a simple single-storey ancillary building to house mechanical and electrical equipment. HS2 are currently seeking views from the community about the final design, with options including a green roof, split louvred or anodised aluminium façade.

HS2 Ltd’s Project Client, David Emms said:

“Once construction is complete, the Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 trains deep under the Chiltern hills, linking London with Birmingham and the North and releasing space for more freight and local services on the existing mainline.

“Set low into the landscape and out of sight for most passers-by, the structures will play a crucial role in cutting out unnecessary noise and housing essential mechanical and electrical equipment. We are keen to hear local views and I would encourage people living locally to have a look at the designs and let us know what they think.”

The structures have been designed and will be built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Work is well underway, with two enormous 2,000 tonnes tunnel boring machines heading north from the south portal to excavate the twin-bore tunnels. They reached Chalfont St Peter last week and are expected to breakthrough at the north portal in two years’ time.

Alan Price, Align JV Design Director said:

“Our TBMs, Florence and Cecilia are making good progress and have each completed over 3km on their journey to the north portal.

“We are always very conscious of the sensitive setting for any permanent structures on the project and this includes the north portal design. We welcome comments from local stakeholders in order that we can finalise the design.”

To the north of the tunnel, the new high speed line will be set into a cutting for 1.8 miles (3km) on its approach to the Wendover Dean Viaduct, with more than 20 hectares of new woodland, shrubs and wildflowers planted to help blend the railway into the surrounding countryside. The species chosen will be typical to the Chilterns including Beech, Oak, Yew, Holly and Dog Rose.

Across this stretch of the line, six new bridges will cross the railway cutting, linking country lanes and historic footpaths to the east and west. New planting will also link existing ancient woodlands alongside of the line, boosting biodiversity and connecting and enhancing existing wildlife habitats.

The surface route to the north of the tunnels, is being built by another of HS2’s main works contracts, EKFB - a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and Bam Nuttall.

More information – and an opportunity for local residents to respond to the designs – can be found here: https://www.hs2.org.uk/chiltern-tunnel-north-portal-ancillary-building-key-design-element/

HS2 this week confirmed that the two enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines digging the high speed rail project’s tunnels under the Chilterns have completed the first stage, up to the ventilation shaft at Chalfont St Peter.

This major achievement means that a combined total of over 3.6 miles has now been dug by the two machines – named Florence and Cecilia – since they launched from the southern end of the tunnels last summer.

The 78m deep shaft at Chalfont St Peter is the first of five that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the ten-mile-long twin tunnels – which are the longest on the project. Once complete, the shaft will be covered by a headhouse designed to resemble local farm buildings.

Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, each TBM is a 170m long self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and grouting them into place as it moves forward.

The TBMs named ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ by local school children launched in May and June last year and are expected to break out at the north portal in around two and a half years.

Welcoming the progress, HS2 Ltd Project Client David Emms said:

“The Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underneath the hills and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above ground as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway.

“It’s great to see how much progress has been made by Florence and Cecilia – and the teams excavating the five ventilation shafts – and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us this far.”

These first two TBMs on the HS2 project are operated by, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

A crew of 17 people on board each machine keep them running, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Align Project Director, Daniel Altier commented:

“Florence and Cecilia reaching our first shaft at Chalfont St Peter is a great achievement for not only the tunnelling team but also construction team involved in excavating and preparing the shaft. In particular I would like to pay credit to KVJV and Keltbray our supply chain partners, who have been working tirelessly over the last few months to ensure the shaft is ready for the arrival of Florence and Cecilia.”  

Each of the separate northbound and southbound tunnels will require 56,000 precision engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete wall segments – which are all being made in purpose build factories on site at the south portal, located just inside the M25. During their first 3.6 miles, Florence and Cecilia have combined installed more than 20,000 separate segments, each weighing around 8.5 tonnes.

Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping on the south portal site. Once construction is complete, this will help create around 90 hectares of wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats. Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of south east England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns.

In total there will be ten TBMs on the HS2 project - working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham. Three machines have been launched so far.

More than 20,000 jobs and over 650 apprenticeships are already being supported by HS2, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

It forms part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs campaign and is designed to support those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Placements are for six months and participants are paid a salary equivalent to the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage.

HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson said:

“Levelling up the country is a key priority for the Government and HS2 is at the heart of achieving this. We’re not only boosting transport connections across the North and the Midlands but also creating tens of thousands of long lasting jobs across the route in the process.

“I’m delighted Align JV are supporting this through our fantastic Kickstart scheme, which will provide young people looking for work with the opportunity to learn new skills and make new connections on Europe’s biggest infrastructure project.”

The six-month programme will provide candidates with a combination of practical and theoretical learning. The ‘hands on’ element of the training will be provided by Align JV and will see young people working to support the delivery of Britain’s new low carbon railway. Placements will be based within a range of different departments including Health & Safety, and Community & Stakeholder Engagement, allowing candidates to choose opportunities that align to their future career aspirations and interests. 

Align JV will also support the learning and development programme, providing employability support to help participants achieve any recognised training needed for the specific roles as well as developing soft skills such as presentation and communication skills.

Jhen-Nel Swanston, HS2 Ltd’s Skills Manager for the region said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for those young people who are finding it difficult to secure a job or meaningful upskilling opportunities that will prepare them for the world of work.

“The chance to work side by side with Align JV’s team of experts, who are constructing the railway, really makes this opportunity unique.”

In line with targets set by HS2, which are designed to create thousands of jobs and opportunities for local people along the route of the railway, Align JV has already committed to ensuring that 4% of its workforce is made up of apprentices. By signing up to the Government’s Kickstart programme it aims to take its commitment to boosting young people’s career prospects a step further.

Siobhan Nevin, Align JV HR Manager said:

“We are delighted to be supporting the Kickstart scheme as a way to enable young people to get involved and contribute to the delivery of the Central 1 section of HS2 Phase one, which Align is delivering. This is an exciting opportunity as the Central 1 section includes a 16km twin bore tunnel and a 3.4km viaduct over the Colne Valley.”

There is just two weeks left to apply for this opportunity. The four Kickstart placements will begin on 1 March 2022 and the application process is now open. Young people who wish to apply and meet the specified criteria (16-24 and claiming Universal Credit) should speak to their Work Coach at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The huge deck segments – which weigh up to 140 tonnes – are being made on site at a temporary factory built specifically for the project. The mammoth 100m long building, which is visible from the M25, has an internal volume of 105,000 cubic metres – making it larger than the Royal Albert Hall.

HS2 Project Client, David Emms said:

“We’re already making strong progress on the Colne Valley Viaduct – sinking the foundations, building the first piers, and now starting production at the new modular viaduct factory. Once complete, this iconic structure will carry trains at up to 200mph – improving connections across the UK, freeing up rail capacity and offering passengers low carbon travel options.

“It’s great to see how much progress has been made and I look forward to seeing work on assembling the deck structure later this year.”

Every segment will be a slightly different shape depending on where it fits into the viaduct and the modular approach was chosen to ensure quality, safety and efficiency in production and to avoid bringing them in by road.

At the peak of construction, around 12 segments – each the size of a double-decker bus - will be cast every week using a ‘match-casting’ technique. This approach - where each segment is poured against the previous one - will ensure the whole arch fits perfectly when reassembled on site.

The huge project is being led by engineers from HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Once construction is complete, the factory and surrounding buildings will be removed and the whole area between the viaduct and the Chiltern tunnel will be transformed into an area of chalk grassland and woodland as part of HS2’s ‘green corridor’ project.

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director

“Seeing the first deck segments being cast in the factory marks a significant milestone for the project. The design of the viaduct is such that each segment will be unique, delivering a structure which I have no doubt will be one of the most striking elements of HS2 once complete.

“I would like to thank all the Align team and our supply chain partners that have enabled us to get to where we are today and in particular VSL, Danny Sullivan, Sendin and Tarmac.” 

The design of the Colne Valley Viaduct was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

Set low into the landscape, wider spans will carry the viaduct crosses the lakes, with narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement views across the natural surroundings.

Work has also begun on the 56 giant piers that will support the viaduct, working from north to south. Weighing in at around 370 tonnes, the first 6m tall reinforced concrete pier was cast on site by a team of engineers who used a specially-designed formwork to create the shape of the structure. This was then removed after 4 days to reveal the final product.

Each pier is designed to support the full weight of the deck above and rests on a set of concrete piles going up to 55m into the ground. This foundation work began earlier this year and will require the construction of 292 piles and 56 pile caps across the whole length of the viaduct.

Once complete, the team will then use a specialised ‘launching girder’ resting on top of the piers to lift the deck segments into position.

In another visible sign of progress on the project, the team have also completed the construction of the first two of four jetties across the lakes to get equipment into position to support the construction thereby taking construction vehicles off local roads. Where the viaduct crosses the lakes, the piles are being bored directly into the lakebed, using a cofferdam to hold back the water while the pier is constructed.

Photos:

• Download new photos of viaduct construction and the new pre-cast factory

The first pier was cast by engineers from HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – and working in partnership with Kilnbridge.

Weighing in at around 370 tonnes, the 6m tall reinforced concrete pier was cast on site by a team of engineers who used a specially-designed formwork to create the shape of the structure. This was then removed after 4 days to reveal the final product.

Each pier is designed to support the full weight of the deck above and rests on a set of concrete piles going up to 55m into the ground. This foundation work began earlier this year and will require the construction of 292 piles and 56 pile caps across the whole length of the viaduct.

In another visible sign of progress on the project, the team have also completed the construction of the first of four jetties across the lakes to get equipment into position to support the construction thereby taking construction vehicles off local roads. Where the viaduct crosses the lake, the piles will be bored directly into the lakebed, using a cofferdam to hold back the water while the pier is constructed.

HS2 Ltd’s Project Client, David Emms, said:

“The Colne Valley Viaduct will be one of HS2’s most iconic structures and it’s great to see how much has been achieved already. I’d like to thank the whole team for the huge amount of work they’ve done to get us to this point.”

Align’s Project Director, Daniel Altier, added:

“I have no doubt that the viaduct will become one, if not the most striking element of HS2 phase 1 once complete. The way it will be constructed is going to be equally fascinating for engineers young and old. The sections for the deck will be fabricated at our main construction site to the west of London just inside the M25, and using a huge launching girder, the deck will be formed from north to south, along the line of the route, thereby keeping unnecessary construction traffic off the roads.

“I would like to thank the whole team, including our supply chain partners, who have worked very hard to enable us to meet this important milestone in the viaduct’s construction.”

The design of the Colne Valley Viaduct was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

Set low into the landscape, wider spans will carry the viaduct crosses the lakes, and narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement views across the natural surroundings.

The main deck of the viaduct – which supports the railway line - will be built in 1000 separate unique segments at a temporary factory nearby before being assembled from north to south, starting next year.

As part of a push across the whole HS2 project to cut carbon in construction, the design and construction teams working on the viaduct have also cut the amount of embedded carbon in the viaduct by around a third, by narrowing the width of the structure and applying lessons for the design of highspeed railway bridges in Europe.

Over the last six years, HS2 has worked closely with Affinity Water and the Environment Agency to monitor water quality and agree working methods. These are being monitored by a team of specialist engineers during construction in order to protect the natural environment.

HS2 today [Monday 15th November 2021] confirmed that it is on track to cut the amount of embedded carbon in the Colne Valley Viaduct by at least 28.4%, as works continue for what will be the UK’s longest railway bridge.

Applying lessons from the construction of the latest European high speed railway bridges, the British team has cut the amount of embedded carbon in the viaduct by 63,300 tonnes CO2e – the equivalent of 234,500 flights from London to Edinburgh.

The production of concrete and steel are major sources of CO2 emissions, so narrowing the width of the viaduct allowed a significant reduction in carbon, and helps reduce disruption for local residents by reducing the number of HGVs on local roads.

Inspired by the flight of a stone skimming over the surface of the water, the Colne Valley Viaduct will stretch for 3.4km across a series of lakes on the outskirts of London, and will be one of the most high-profile structures on the new HS2 high speed rail link under construction between London, the West Midlands and Crewe.

HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – worked for four years on the design with architects Grimshaw and design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel.

Starting from the reference design produced as part of the HS2 parliamentary process, they refined the design, challenged assumptions, and found efficiencies to help reduce the amount of steel and concrete in the structure.

This included working closely with rail systems experts at HS2 Ltd to allow the structure to be narrowed by over 1m, while still allowing sufficient space for signalling and control equipment alongside the line. They also worked to bring the northbound and southbound tracks closer together further north, which in turn significantly reduced the amount of earthworks required for the approach embankment.

Conscious of commitments made to the community about the appearance of the viaduct as it passed over the lakes, the team focused on creating long graceful arches over the water while reserving simpler, easier to construct, designs for the approaches. Inside the viaduct, the engineers opted for a ‘post-tension’ design, with lightweight super-strong steel cables running the full length of structure.

The cables will be monitored 24/7 by a network of high-tech sensors and act to bind the viaduct together allowing it to handle the enormous forces produced by trains passing at speeds of up to 200mph (320km/h). This combination of steel and concrete allows for the most efficient use of the materials and the low elegant profile of the viaduct.

Every element of the design was challenged during the design process, with noise barriers moving from solid concrete to a composite design with noise absorbing steel cassettes at the bottom and transparent acrylic at the top, helping to reduce the amount of concrete while also reducing the visual weight of the structure and enabling views across it.

An extensive programme of test piling was also completed ahead of the start of construction with geological and structural data from these tests fed back into the design of the viaduct. This has resulted in a 10-15% reduction in the depth of the piles and associated time, cost and carbon savings.

Billy Ahluwalia, HS2 Ltd Senior Project Manager, said:

“By providing a cleaner, greener way to travel, HS2 will help cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, cut demand for domestic flights, and help the fight against climate change.

“But we’re also serious about reducing the amount of carbon we use during construction, and the Colne Valley Viaduct is a great example of how we’re using the latest engineering techniques to do just that. Concrete is one of our industries’ biggest sources of embedded carbon – and this design will help us cut our carbon footprint while delivering a lighter, stronger and more elegant structure.”

Alan Price, Align Design Director:

“In designing the viaduct we have had to address the challenges of not only building a structure capable of handling the huge forces that will be exerted on it from high speed trains operating in both directions, but also to meet the demands of local stakeholders, creating a design that not only makes a positive statement, demonstrating world class engineering, but also really works within the environment in which it is placed.

“Working through the design process and using the original specimen design as a starting point, we have been able to deliver not only an iconic design but also a significant reduction in CO2 required to build the viaduct. This is not only a significant achievement for all those involved, but also for the environment.”

Construction began earlier this year, with the first of 292 concrete piles sunk into the ground to form the foundations for the viaduct.

On top of each group of piles – some of which will go up to 55m into the ground - a concrete pile cap will support each of the 56 piers which will in turn support the full weight of the bridge structure above. Instead of hammering the piles into the ground, holes are being bored before being backfilled to create the pile.

Set low into the landscape, the piers will support a series of elegant spans, some as long as 80m, which will carry the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

The main deck of the viaduct will be built in sections at a temporary factory nearby before being assembled from north to south starting next year.

In response, HS2’s Arts and Culture team commissioned artist and landscape designer, Emily Cropton, who worked with the pupils to develop a design for the new play area that would also help them to connect with their area’s natural history and to see how they have a role in it.

Built on part of the school’s playing field, the new play area’s central feature is five rolling hills, built by Align and its contractors with 1,000 tonnes of soil. It also includes apple, pear, plum and cherry trees to connect pupils with the changing seasons, a ‘fallen forest’ of balancing logs and a tunnel of woven willow saplings.

To help the children comprehend the long history of the Chiltern Hills and Colne Valley, their new play area also includes boulders, similar to those deposited in the area during the last Ice Age. A cutting lined with hand-made bricks in one of the newly made hills reveals “fossils of the future”. The children developed the designs with Emily, bringing to life their ideas of what today’s geological footprints could look like in millions of years’ time.

Pupils were joined by Align project director, Daniel Altier and Emily Cropton to cut a ribbon and open the area for children to play on.

Align project director, Daniel Altier, said:

“Align is very pleased to have been involved in this unique project, working with our local supply chain contractors. What we have delivered is a legacy for the children in the local area that will hopefully inspire the next generation of engineers. It has been a pleasure to work with the school, and its governors to deliver Emily’s wonderful design.” 

HS2 Ltd senior arts & culture design manager, Theresa Bergne, said:

“I am really delighted to see this wonderful project come to fruition. It is a great example of how HS2’s arts and culture programme adds value to the project. By creatively recycling construction material, Emily Cropton has worked with the children to think about spaces for play, the seasons and the environment. She has responded to their ideas by designing an inspiring and extraordinary natural play area.”

Maple Cross JMI Acting Headteachers, Anjali Majithia and Emma Bailey said: 

“We’re really grateful to the whole HS2 team for their efforts to deliver this new play area for the children. We know they’ll be so excited to play on it, but also have the opportunity to ask questions and think about what it says about their environment and how it has changed over time.”

Landscape designer, Emily Cropton said:

“It’s been a real pleasure to work with the children and staff at Maple Cross School. The area’s rich geological history provided a very relevant starting point and the project has created an opportunity to engage the children in developing their area in a way that which leaves a legacy for the school. As a living landscape, the orchard, meadow, living willow tunnel and grassland will evolve over time to create a rich play and learning environment.”

Named ‘Florence’ by local school children, the TBM is one of two identical machines excavating the twin ten-mile-long tunnels. A second machine, named ‘Cecilia’ is a short way behind, with both TBMs expected to break out in around three years’ time.

Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, each machine is a self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and grouting them into place as it moves forward.

Welcoming the progress, HS2 Ltd Project Client Rohan Perin said:

“The 10 mile Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underneath the hills and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above ground as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway.

“Once complete, HS2 will offer low carbon journey options linking London with the major cities of the north and releasing capacity for more freight and local trains on our existing mainlines. It’s great to see how much progress has been made over the summer and I’d like to thank the crew of Florence and all the tunnelling team for their hard work.”

The first two TBMs are operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

A crew of 17 people keep the machines running, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Align Project Director Daniel Altier added:

“I am delighted with the progress that Florence has made since its launch in May, with Cecilia not far behind. All the spoil from the TBMs is converted into slurry before being pumped back to our South Portal site, just inside the M25, where it is processed and used for landscaping on site. This is, and will continue to be, a huge logistical challenge, as Florence and Cecilia continue their journey through the Chilterns.

“Florence reaching the 1 mile point is a great achievement, however we still have a long way to go.”

Each of the separate northbound and southbound tunnels will require 56,000 precision engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete wall segments – which are all being made at the south portal of the tunnel, next to the M25. During her first mile, Florence and her crew have installed more than 5,500 separate segments, each weighing around 8.5 tonnes.

Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping around the south portal site. Once construction is complete, this will help create around 90 hectares of wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats. Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of south east England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns.

In total there will be ten TBMs on the HS2 project - working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham.

More than 20,000 jobs and over 650 apprenticeships are already being supported by HS2, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

The TBM is named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Buckinghamshire where she wrote books on nursing, with the name suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon. 

Under a collaborative programme at HS2’s Chilterns tunnel south portal site, the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Smart Infrastructure & Construction (CSIC) and geosynthetics manufacturer HUESKER have combined technological expertise to create “Sensorgrid”, a standard ground-stabilizing mesh woven with fibre optic cables.  

The team, which also included project contractor Align, its designer, Jacobs, and infrastructure monitoring company, Epsimon Ltd; created a test pit at the site to trial the smart grid technology by simulating ground movement.  

Heavy-duty water-filled bags were laid in the base of the pit, sections of Sensorgrid were laid over it and then buried. Monitoring equipment then generated pulses of light that travelled through the fibre optic cable. To simulate ground movement, water was released from the bags causing the weight of the ground above to move and strain the mesh which in turn causes a change in characteristics of the light pulsing through it.

The successful trial showed that Sensorgrid can detect small ground movements earlier and more effectively than established ground monitoring techniques.  

The team estimates that on construction costs alone, proactive preventive action enabled by Sensorgrid would be up to 10 times less than the cost of repairing ground that has failed. The benefits of disruption reduced or avoided would be in addition to this saving.

The technology is now undergoing a full scale live trial elsewhere at HS2’s South Portal site near the M25 motorway. Two kilometres of Sensorgrid has been incorporated into a cutting for the railway. It will provide continuous data to the monitoring team over the next two years.

As a new railway built to modern design standards, HS2’s vulnerability to extreme weather is much reduced when compared to older lines. Sections of the existing Victorian railway from Cornwall and Kent to Scotland have this year suffered land slips resulting from heavy rain, which has caused disruption to passengers.

HS2 Ltd innovation manager Rob Cairns said:

“Sensorgrid is a great example of how we’re leveraging HS2’s size and scale to draw on British expertise to develop a technology and demonstrate its innovative capability in the early stages of construction. This will act as a test bed for proving out significant benefit to the operational railway, with long term benefits in bolstering the resilience of the UK’s transport network.”

Align’s innovation manager, Nick Podevyn said:

“A lot of hard work has gone into this innovation, which has been in incubation for more than a year. It has been an exemplar of open collaboration and working as one team to deliver the solution. It’s fantastic to see the prototype being physically tested on our site and then the technology being implemented on the live project.”

CSIC Operations Manager, Cedric Kechavarzi said:

“Sensorgrid opens a wealth of new opportunities to use fibre optic sensing in geotechnical applications, as it vastly improves strain transfer from the soil to the sensor.”

HS2 has revealed the first images of the latest of its ‘barn design’ rural headhouses which will provide emergency access to the 10 mile long Chiltern tunnel.

The reveal of the design completes the set of five headhouses on the Chiltern tunnel, with work now begun at all sites and excavation well underway for what will be the longest tunnel on the HS2 project.

Largely hidden behind a hedge and line of mature oak trees next to the B485, the Chesham Road headhouse is designed to fit into the surrounding landscape and takes its inspiration from the style of nearby barns and other agricultural buildings.

The single-story building will be wrapped in a simple pre-weathered grey zinc roof which will age naturally over time, without loss of robustness or quality, while the whole structure will sit on a simple dark blue brick base.

Below ground level, a 45m shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below to provide access for the emergency services. Because of its proximity to the North Portal of the tunnel, unlike the other four shafts, Chesham Road will not need to include ventilation equipment.

The plans were drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick - working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, and the architect Grimshaw and landscape designers, LDA.

Welcoming the new designs, HS2 Project Client Rohan Perin said:

“The launch of our giant tunnelling machines – Florence and Cecilia – earlier this year were huge symbolic moments for the project, but just as important has been the progress we’ve made at each of the shaft sites to prepare for the arrival of the TBMs over the next three years.

“The reveal of the first designs for Chesham Road complete the set of five headhouse designs. As with each of the other rural headhouses, our priority has been to blend the buildings into the surrounding landscape, and I look forward to seeing what the local community thinks of the plans.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director added:

“I am delighted with the progress we have made so far at all five shaft sites. We are working to a detailed schedule to ensure that each shaft is ready for the arrival of our two TBMs, currently tunnelling north from the South Portal.

As is the case with all the shafts, it is important that the headhouse design at Chesham Road fits into the surrounding landscape, therefore we look forward receiving comments on the design from the local community.”

The Chesham Road shaft was added to the Chiltern tunnel in 2015 in order to allow the tunnel to be safely extended by 2.6km – a decision which saved 12 hectares of woodland at the nearby Mantle’s Wood, Sibley’s Coppice and Farthings Wood.

Construction of the tunnel is now well underway. The two giant tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that were launched earlier this year to dig the parallel northbound and southbound tunnels have now passed under the M25 and are heading towards the first shaft site near Chalfont St Peter. An expert team of engineers from Align have already excavated the shaft to a depth of 68m and are working to complete it before the arrival of the first TBM next year.

At the next shaft site, near Chalfont St Giles, the HS2 team have now completed the concrete ‘diaphragm walls’ for the 46m deep shaft using specialised drilling equipment and will soon begin excavating material from within the concrete walls in order to create the shaft.

The next shaft site is next to the A413 road junction outside Amersham. Work is well underway, with engineers working on the concrete ‘D-walls’ for the 51m deep shaft. Further north at the Little Missenden site, alongside the A413, engineers are preparing for the start of wall construction, while at Chesham Road - the last shaft the TBMs will reach - site set up is now well underway.

Below ground level, the shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels, with fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

The structure was designed by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick - working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, and the architect Grimshaw and landscape designers, LDA.

A 120 tonne drilling rig with a specialised cutting head was used to excavate the walls of the shaft, before concrete was poured in to form each of the 16 wall panels. Now, with the walls complete, the team are excavating the chalk from inside the shaft to reveal the full depth of the structure.

The two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) – named Florence and Cecilia - are expected to reach the shaft next year and complete their 10 mile journey in three years’ time. Once the TBMs have passed through, the team will build the internal vent shaft structures, basement works and install the equipment.

Around 18,000 cubic meters of material is expected to be excavated from the shaft, with the chalk set to be reused to landscape the site once construction is complete, taking trucks off locals roads and helping to create new chalk grassland habitats. 

Rohan Perin, HS2 Ltd’s Project Client Director said: 
“The excavation at Chalfont St Peter shows how much progress we have already made in delivering the Chiltern tunnels. Topped with a headhouse inspired by the style of local barns and agricultural buildings, the shaft is one of the few elements of the tunnel which will be visible above ground level and shows just how seriously we are taking our responsibility to protect the landscape and natural environment.

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director added:

“I am delighted with the progress we have made with the Chalfont St Peter shaft and the fact that we have been able to put in place measures to limit disruption to the local community.

“We are very conscious to ensure that any permanent structures on the project fit into the surrounding landscape and the Chalfont St Peter headhouse is no exception.”

Before the start of construction, a temporary access road was built to link the site with the A413, Amersham Road. This has allowed construction traffic to avoid the centre of Chalfont St Peter and stopped heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) driving past Robertswood School and the Epilepsy Society.

A new temporary marshalled lorry holding area has also been established on the A413 near Gerrards Cross. HGVs can be held in this newly surfaced layby until their approach to the vent shaft site is clear – helping to reduce congestion and eliminate queueing at the site entrance.

Photos and video:

• The first images of the Chalfont St Peter ventilation shaft being excavated can be found here: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/tbms-and-tunnels-massive-machines-and-their-current-progress/chiltern-tunnels-chalfont-st-peter-headhouse

• A new video, explaining progress on site and including a drone flight within the shaft, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T6boZJ0Sz4

Align welcomes Chalfonts Community College to visit Cecilia, the tunnel boring machine that its students named

8 July 2021

Chalfonts Community College in Buckinghamshire suggested naming one of the TBMs after Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, the Astronomer and Astrophysicist born in Buckinghamshire who attended Cambridge University before becoming Chair of Astronomy at Harvard University in the United States. She was the first person to properly ‘read’ a temperature on stars.

This name, along with suggestions from other local schools were put to the public vote, and Cecilia received the second highest number of votes. The most votes were for Florence Nightingale, whose name was selected for the first Align TBM.   

On 23 June Cecilia started what will be a three year journey to construct the second tunnel, and the Chalfonts Community College students were able to visit the site and see the TBM before it fully disappears underground for the next three years.

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director who met the students commented:

“It was wonderful to see the students on site looking at the TBM that they named as it continues its journey through the Chilterns.

Align is delivering not only the longest tunnels on HS2 Phase 1, but also the longest viaduct over the Colne Valley. To deliver this our team is addressing some significant and exciting engineering challenges. I look forward to hosting further visits over the months and years ahead, from schools and colleges whose students are studying STEM related subjects and keen to see how we are addressing a whole range of engineering challenges to deliver our portion of HS2.”

These are some of the quotes from the students that attended:

“It was so interesting to see a construction site in action and learn about the different stages of the tunnel boring.”

“It was a really inspiring visit and great to hear about the different roles on the project relating to the Environment, Finance, Engineering, HR and Communications.”

“It was so lovely to see the tunnel boring machine that I had named, starting its journey.”

Despite starting second, Cecilia will run slightly faster, aided by geological data fed back from Florence, meaning that both machines are due to break through at around the same time.

In total there will be ten tunnel boring machines (TBMs) working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands for the high speed rail project which is already securing jobs and helping the UK to build back better from the pandemic.

More than 16,000 jobs and over 500 apprenticeships are already being supported by HS2, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

The TBM is named after pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who was born in Buckinghamshire, with the name suggested by pupils at the nearby Chalfont Community College and chosen in a public vote.

It will operate alongside an identical machine – named ‘Florence’ – with each machine excavating separate northbound and southbound tunnels and will help to safeguard the woodland and wildlife habitats above ground.

Welcoming the news, HS2 Ltd’s Delivery Director, David Bennett said: 

“The launch of our second tunnelling machine at our South Portal site shows that HS2 is are now well on our way to delivering the first and longest tunnel on the project.

“With more than 16,000 jobs already supported by the project and thousands of companies big and small benefiting from contracts, HS2 is providing a major boost to the economy in these difficult times. In the longer term, this transformational rail project will help link our regions and nations and offer low carbon transport options for generations to come.”

The first two TBMs are operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – and launched from a site by the M25 to the north west of London.

Designed specifically for the mix of chalk and flints under the Chilterns, the two identical TBMs are powered by zero carbon electricity and move at a speed of up to 15 metres a day.

Each machine operates as a self-contained underground factory - digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and grouting them into place. Each tunnel will require 56,000 precision engineered, fibre-reinforced segments – which will all be made on site.

A crew of 17 people will operate each TBM, working in shifts to keep the machines running 24/7. They will be supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Chalk excavated from the tunnels will be used for landscaping at the south portal site once construction is complete, creating wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats across 127 hectares of the southern Chiltern hills.

Align Project Director, Daniel Altier, commented:

“We are delighted to be launching Cecilia this week, the second of our TBMs, to dig the Chiltern tunnels.

“Both TBMs are identical and include innovations to improve efficiency and the safety of the environment in which the crews will be working that have never before been introduced on any previous TBM, worldwide.

“I would like to thank everyone in our integrated project team that includes Align, our design partner Align D and HS2, working closely with our suppliers, for all their hard work that has enabled us to get to where we are today, culminating in the launch of Cecilia.”

Align is recruiting 1,200 personnel in total, including 100 apprentices, to work on the Central 1 Area of HS2 Phase One that it is delivering. Align are targeting their recruitment and investment in upskilling local people who are currently unemployed, with a particular focus on women, the under 25s and those with disabilities.

This is another great example of the vital role HS2 continues to play in the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create employment, which has helped millions of people to continue to provide for their families during the COVID-19 crisis.

GREEN LIGHT FOR HS2’S AMBITIOUS CHILTERN TUNNEL CHALK GRASSLAND PROJECT

21 June 2021

The ‘Colne Valley Western Slopes’ project – which was approved under Schedule 17 of the HS2 Act by Three Rivers District Council and Buckinghamshire Council – will see the transformation of what is now an HS2 construction site into one of the largest areas of new chalk grassland in the Chiltern hills.

Chalk grassland – a type of calcareous grassland - is a habitat of international conservation importance mainly found on limestone and chalk valleys of south-east England and the Isle of Wight.

Lime-rich, but low in nutrients, the thin soil holds little water and heats up quickly. These conditions encourage a huge variety of smaller herbs and wildflowers and over 40 species can be found in one square metre of grassland, including some of the UK’s rarest orchids and invertebrates. Only 700 hectares of chalk grassland exist across the whole of the Chilterns AONB.

As part of the ambitious scheme, 90 hectares of chalk grassland will be seeded into re-profiled soil layers using the nutrient poor subsoils on the site and mixing these soils with chalk from the tunnelling and recycled concrete and aggregates from construction works. The design of these soil profiles will be completed through collaboration with Cranfield University and Tim O’Hare Associates in an innovative research study that will use the results from both laboratory and on-site trialling of the soil layers.

This will sit alongside new areas of woodland, wood pasture and wetlands, including almost 65,000 trees and shrubs of 32 species and nearly 3.5km of new hedgerows. Around 4.5km of new footpath, cycling and horse-riding routes will give the public areas to large parts of the site, which sits between the Colne Valley Regional Park and the Chilterns AONB.

Welcoming the news, HS2’s Environment Director Peter Miller said:

“The Western Valley Slopes project is one of the most important parts of our Green Corridor programme to establish better connected, sustainable and biodiverse landscapes along the route of the new railway and will contribute substantially to HS2’s carbon reduction target.

“It demonstrates HS2’s approach to addressing many of the complex issues surrounding climate change and which are central to protecting our environment, and is a great example of how good design and planning can mitigate the effects of climate change. A huge amount of work has gone into the planning for this ambitious project and it’s great that that’s been recognised in the schedule 17 approval.”

Eric Buckmaster, Cabinet Member for The Environment at Hertfordshire County Council, said:

“We’re delighted that these valuable new habitats will be created in Hertfordshire as part of the HS2 project. Protecting and increasing biodiversity is a major priority for us, and we’ve been working closely with HS2 for over a decade to try to ensure that the new railway is a net positive for the county’s environment.

“It’s great news that the construction of the tunnel portal in the south west of the county will mean such a significant improvement for habitats and biodiversity in the area, with new chalk grassland, woodland and wetlands all providing vital homes for some of Hertfordshire’s rarest plants and animals.”

The plans have been developed by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – working with Jacobs and LDA Design.

Align is responsible for the Chiltern tunnel’s south portal compound – where the giant tunnelling machines are being launched from. In total, around 3 million cubic meters of chalk will be excavated from the tunnels and reused in the landscape restoration alongside crushed concrete and limestone aggregate used in construction – taking away the need to remove the material by road.

New planting and seeding will create an extensive mosaic of habitat that which would be a perfect home for hundreds of species of flora and fauna, including invertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Daniel Altier, Project Director from Align said:

“I am delighted that that this innovative, multi-discipline project to create a huge expanse of new grassland, connected woodland and wood pasture in the Colne Valley has been approved. It will help to preserve declining or rare flora and fauna in the area, and provide a lasting legacy for local people to enjoy for years to come.

I would like thank Natural England, Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, the Colne Valley Regional Park Panel, local authorities, and specialist soils experts for their contribution, enabling us to achieve this significant milestone.”

The plans were approved by Three Rivers District Council (which covers more than 99% of the site) and Buckinghamshire Council under Schedule 17 of the HS2 Act 2017. This followed extensive pre-application engagement and collaboration with the planning leads at Hertfordshire County Council, Three Rivers District Council and Buckinghamshire Council, as well as other key stakeholders.

As well as the landscaping, the approval also includes the design of the south portal itself and associated service buildings. Going forward, HS2 and its contractors will continue to work closely with the planning authorities to develop the final restoration of the site.

The first of two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) began excavating the 10 mile long Chiltern tunnel earlier this year, with the site now set to receive a continuous supply of chalk until tunnel completion in 2024.  Field trials are in preparation ahead of final seeding, and planting of trees and shrubs in 2025.

The Meadow High School in Hillingdon suggested naming one of the TBMs after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Buckinghamshire where she wrote numerous books on nursing. This name, along with suggestions from other local schools were put to the public vote, and Florence received the greatest number of votes.

In early May Florence started what will be a three year journey to construct the first tunnel, and the Meadow High School students were able to visit the site and see the TBM before it fully disappears underground for the next three years.

Rohan Perin, HS2 Ltd Central 1 Project Client commented:

“We are very pleased that we have been able to engage with local schools to help name our TBMs. Considering the pandemic that we have all been facing over the past 18 months it seems very appropriate that the Meadow High School should have suggested naming our first TBM after Florence Nightingale, a great choice.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director added:

“It was wonderful to see the students on site looking at the TBM that they named as it continues its journey through the Chilterns.

Align is delivering not only the longest tunnels on HS2 Phase 1, but also the longest viaduct over the Colne Valley. To deliver this our team is addressing some significant and exciting engineering challenges. I look forward to hosting further visits over the months and years ahead, from schools and colleges whose students are studying STEM related subjects and keen to see how we are addressing a whole range of engineering challenges to deliver our portion of HS2.”

Aggie Fabisch, Head of the Vocational Department, Work Related Learning and Community Cohesion, Meadow High School said:

“Thank you for providing our pupils with so much interesting information and making the trip so enjoyable and accessible. The students loved it and were amazed by the size of Florence and Cecilia. The time at the Visitors Centre really added to their experience.

It was fabulous meeting your amazing team, they were lovely. We had such a laugh and we are looking forward to visiting the site again in future”.

These are a few of the comments from the students…

“I had a great time” Bobby
“I really want to see the tunnel! Can we go back there please?” Rokas
“We were VIP’s! I would like to visit again” Stecey
“WOW, the machines were huge” Harry

All nine jobs will be based at the South Portal of the Chilterns tunnel, just inside the M25 near Ruislip, where HS2’s 2,000 tonne tunnel boring machines begin their journey underground.

With just weeks to go until HS2’s second tunnelling machine ‘Cecilia’ launches from the site, TG Tunnelling and Align are eager to bring their new recruits on board. They are working closely with Training Providers J3M and Qualitrain to design a development programme that will enable the successful candidates to learn from, and work with, the experts who will manage the logistics and maintenance of the 3.5 year-long tunnelling operation.

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

“The first specialist tunnelling apprenticeships on HS2 are a hugely exciting opportunity for young people to work right at the heart of this vital project. As well as boosting their careers, these apprentices will play a significant role in building better connections between our towns and cities.

“As well as creating thousands of contract opportunities for British businesses, HS2 will leave a lasting skills legacy in the UK by supporting tens of thousands of jobs and opening up opportunities for people to retrain and upskill."

Jhen-Nel Swanson, HS2’s Skills Manager for the Central region said:

“Providing entry-level roles aligned to some of the most sophisticated engineering elements of the project is a clear sign of our commitment to upskill the next generation and leave a lasting skills legacy.”

“This level of investment has never been more important as we strive to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic, and we’re committed to ensuring that local people benefit from these and thousands of other job opportunities on HS2.”

HS2 has committed to creating 2,000 apprenticeships during the life cycle of the project and has already passed the 500 new apprentice starts milestone. The nine apprenticeships announced today form part of Align’s commitment to create 100 apprenticeships from the 1,200 roles it expects to recruit to deliver its 21.6km section of Britain’s new high speed railway.

Tina Bailey, HR Director at Align Joint Venture said:

“This is a unique opportunity for nine individuals to begin their construction career supporting the development of the Chiltern tunnels and the Colne Valley Viaduct, which are two of the most eye-catching and challenging engineering projects on the entire HS2 route.

“We actively encourage applications from local people, particularly those who are unemployed, and really hope to attract interest from female candidates, the under 25s and those with disabilities.”

The tunnelling operative apprentice roles are designed to spearhead a long and successful career in construction, tunnelling and complex engineering. The apprenticeship programme will last for two years, with successful candidates receiving dedicated support throughout their learning journey. The programme combines a wide range of on-the-job practical experiences, alongside a study programme which will account for twenty percent of the candidates’ time.

Neil Hancox, Chair of TunnelSkills said:

“This apprenticeship programme will take emerging talent on a journey of learning and discovery in the tunnelling sector. This is an exciting time for the industry and this investment will lead to a highly qualified and experienced workforce for the future.”

TG Tunnelling is eager to hear from people of all ages, whether they are starting out in their career, or simply looking for a new opportunity that provides long-term career prospects. It stipulates that candidates must have a passion for learning and a genuine interest in starting a meaningful career within the construction sector.

Tommy Gallagher Jr, Director at TG Tunnelling said:

“It’s a unique opportunity to begin your tunnelling career on Europe’s biggest infrastructure project and we’re proud to play a leading role in developing Britain’s pipeline of future tunnelling talent. 

“Our apprentices who worked on Crossrail have all gone on to secure full-time roles within the industry and I have every confidence that our new recruits will have a prosperous career ahead of them in the ever growing UK Tunnelling market.”

More information about the apprenticeships and the application process can be found on the Department for Work and Pension’s Find a Job site.

HS2 Ltd will today [Thursday 13 May] announce the launch of the enormous 2,000 tonne tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Florence’ from HS2’s South Portal site next to the M25 in Hertfordshire, at an event attended by HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson and HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston among others.

The launch of the first of ten giant tunnelling machines that will dig 64 miles of tunnels between London and the West Midlands, is just the latest example of how HS2 is securing jobs and helping the UK to build back better from the pandemic.

More than 16,000 jobs and over 500 apprenticeships are already being supported by the project, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“The launch today of the first giant tunnelling machine on HS2 is not only a landmark moment for the project, but the ground-breaking evidence that shows our commitment to levelling up transport links across the UK, supporting thousands of jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships in the process.

“The work has truly begun on taking HS2 northwards. The tunnels these machines dig will ensure the benefits of our new high-capacity, high-speed railway run to the great cities of the North and Midlands, forging stronger connections in our country, boosting connectivity and skills opportunities and transforming our transport links.”

Named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale – a name suggested by local children due to her residence at nearby Claydon House in Bucks, and chosen in a public vote – the TBM will dig the first of a pair of 10 mile long tunnels under the Chiltern hills and help to safeguard the woodland and wildlife habitats above ground. A second machine ‘Cecilia’ will launch next month to excavate the second tunnel at the South Portal site.

Welcoming the news, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston said:

“The launch of our first tunnelling machine is a major moment of progress for the HS2 project as we work to deliver a high-speed railway that will offer low-carbon alternatives for long distance journeys across the UK.

“With more than 16,000 jobs already supported by the project and thousands of companies big and small benefiting from contracts, HS2 is providing a major boost to the economy in these difficult times. The start of tunnelling is a moment of genuine excitement for everyone involved, and I hope the entire country will get behind this truly transformative project.”

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

“The launch of Florence – the first HS2 tunnelling machine – is a truly historic moment for the project and this country.

“Supporting over 16,000 skilled jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships, and thousands of contract opportunities for British businesses, HS2 is a job creator, a spark for economic growth and an opportunity to level up the country, right at the heart of our plans to build back better from Covid-19.”

The first two TBMs will be operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Designed specifically for the mix of chalk and flints under the Chilterns, the two identical TBMs will dig separate tunnels for north and southbound trains.

Each machine operates as a self-contained underground factory - digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and grouting them into place at a speed of around 15 meters a day. Each tunnel will require 56,000 precision engineered, fibre-reinforced segments – which will all be made on site.

A crew of 17 people will operate each TBM, working in shifts to keep the machines running 24/7. They will be supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

Chalk excavated from the tunnels will be used for landscaping at the south portal site once construction is complete, creating wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats across 127 hectares of the southern Chiltern hills.

Align Project Director, Daniel Altier, commented:

“Align is very proud to be launching the first two TBMs on the HS2 project. The TBMs include a number of innovations to improve efficiency and the safety of the environment in which the crew will be working, that have never before been introduced on any previous TBMs, worldwide.

“I would like to thank everyone in our integrated project team that includes Align, our design partner Align D and HS2, working closely with our suppliers, for all their hard work that has enabled us to get to where we are today, culminating in the launch of Florence.”

Align is recruiting 1,200 personnel in total, including 100 apprentices, to work on the Central 1 Area of HS2 Phase One that it is delivering. Align are targeting their recruitment and investment in upskilling local people who are currently unemployed, with a particular focus on women, the under 25s and those with disabilities.

This is another great example of the vital role HS2 continues to play in the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create employment, which has helped millions of people to continue to provide for their families during the COVID-19 crisis.

Built by Herrenknecht, a world leader in TBM manufacturing, at its factory in south-west Germany, the two 170m long machines were transported to the UK in more than 300 separate shipments last year, before being reassembled, tested and commissioned by an expert team of tunnelling engineers at the Chiltern tunnel south portal site, near the M25 to the north-west of London.

The names of the two TBMs were suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon and The Chalfonts Community College, Buckinghamshire, which are close to the tunnel launch site. They were inspired by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern medicine, and pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin.

Around 4,500 people from across the UK took part in the poll to select the final names, with Florence taking 40% of the vote and Cecilia a close second with 32%.

Slurry from boring the tunnels will be processed on site at a construction base just inside the M25 motorway – avoiding the need to transport the waste off site for reprocessing elsewhere.

Once out of the tunnel, the chalk and water slurry will be separated on site in a giant, purpose-built slurry treatment plant (pictured) where it will be pressed through ever-finer filters until all the water is removed to leave behind a dry chalky “cake”.

One of the key challenges the separation process faces is preventing the thickening slurry from clogging up the filtering machinery. Working with its supplier MS, that has delivered the slurry treatment plant, HS2's civils contractor Align opted to use a polymer specifically developed to be effective with Chilterns chalk, which will enable the entire separation process to happen in around a week.

After which the chalk cake will be used to deliver HS2’s Colne Valley Western Slopes project - part of its Green Corridor programme to re-establish the locally distinctive chalk valley landscape and create the right growing conditions for calcareous grassland across the site.

The initiative will be a major contributor in helping HS2 meet its carbon reduction targets by delivering significant ecological gain in the Colne Valley, reducing road haulage, and enabling habitats to sequester carbon by replacing arable land with natural habitats. Almost 65,000 trees and shrubs comprising of 32 species will be planted together with nearly 3.5km of new hedgerows. Around 90 hectares of chalk grasslands will be created and areas of historic woodland reinstated.

HS2 innovation manager, Rob Cairns said:

“This brilliant innovation reduces the logistics operation to manage this waste product – helping HS2 to meet our ambition to reduce carbon emissions in construction by 50%. In addition, it means this slurry can be used to support the creation of 127 hectares of valuable new habitat, a key part of HS2’s fantastic Green Corridor plans.”

“Anybody who remembers classroom blackboards knows that chalk is dusty, so to avoid that and carry the freshly-cut loose chalk to the surface safely it’s mixed with water at the cutter head,” says Nick Podevyn, innovation manager for HS2 contractor, Align. “However, the scale of the project demands an innovative solution to deal with the 4.5 million cubic metres of waste slurry that will be extracted over the next three years,” he added.

The new shoes, which have been developed in three different sizes to meet the needs of male and female workers, are now in use across Align’s HS2 construction sites. Within the first month, the shoe covers had proven effective in reducing littering as well as contributing to Align’s target to ensure that 70% of plastic is recycled or reused by the end of the project.

Carl Baker, waste manager for the Align joint venture said;

“This is a fantastic initiative and a great example of how we continue to challenge ourselves to drive excellence and respect the natural environment in the delivery of HS2.

“Early trials show that the shoes not only provide better grip, but they can be washed too. This means they can last for over six weeks, which really helps to reduce single use plastic waste. From concept to delivery, this simple idea has proven to be a great success.”

OnSite Support is among the latest innovation-led SMEs to join HS2’s supply chain. Over 2,000 companies have already won work on the project, 70% of which are SMEs and over 95% are based in the UK.

HS2 casts first of 112,000 Chiltern tunnel wall segments ahead of TBM launch

18 March 2021

Latest milestone in the countdown to the launch of HS2’s first giant tunnelling machines – Florence and Cecilia

• New photographs showing work inside the vast temporary pre-cast factory can be found here: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/4nP6HKFPqjgB

•  A video explaining the work can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkquVVtot24

Preparations for the launch of HS2’s first giant tunnelling machines ramped up this week as the first of 112,000 walls segments for the Chiltern tunnel rolled off a purpose-built production line at the project’s tunnelling HQ close to the M25.

The project’s first two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) – named Florence and Cecilia - are due to launch in early summer. Each of the 170m long, 2,000 tonne machines will spend more than 3 years underground, digging and slotting the wall segments into place to create the 10 mile long tunnels.

Made of high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete, the segments are being produced at a temporary pre-cast factory next to the TBM launch pads at what will be the south portal of the tunnels. This will avoid putting extra HGVs on local roads and ensure a steady supply of segments for the TBMs.

Construction of the Chiltern tunnel, and nearby Colne Valley Viaduct, is being led by HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV - a joint venture made up of three companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. Work on the two structures will support around 1,200 jobs.

Once construction is complete, the pre-cast factory and the rest of the south portal site, will be cleared, with the chalk excavated from the tunnels used to landscape the site and create high quality chalk grassland and other wildlife habitats.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2 Ltd’s C1 Project Director, Rohan Perin said:

“The start of production at the tunnel wall precast plant is a major milestone as we countdown to the launch of our first TBMs later this year. By casting all 112,000 segments on site we can significantly reduce the number of HGVs on local roads and reduce the amount of disruption for local residents.

“Once complete, the 10 mile long tunnels under the Chilterns will also significantly reduce the impact of the project on the local environment, with material from tunnels used to create new species rich chalk grassland

Didier Jacques, Align’s Underground Construction Director added:

“We are using Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) in the segments due to the improved ductility and durability it offers. The SFRC segments are also easier to fabricate.

“Once in the moulds we are using robots to polish the concrete, a task that was previously manual, to improve the quality and consistency of the final product. With 7 segments in each ring, we will be producing a total of 160 rings ahead of launch of the first TBM later this year.”

HS2 begins work on UK’s longest rail viaduct

16 March 2021

• Images of what the completed Colne Valley Viaduct will look like, can be found here: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/jSBJ_f4Feu8m

HS2 began work this week on the UK’s longest railway bridge, with an expert team of ground engineers sinking the first of almost 300 piles that will form the foundations for the Colne Valley Viaduct.

The viaduct, which will carry the new high-speed rail line for 3.4km across a series of lakes and waterways on the north west outskirts of London, will be almost a kilometre longer than the Forth Rail Bridge and carry trains travelling at speeds of up to 200mph.

Set low in the landscape, the design was inspired by the flight of a stone skipping across the water, with a series of elegant spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

The structure will be supported by 56 piers, with the widest spans reserved for where the viaduct crosses the lakes, and narrower spans for the approaches. This design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement the natural surroundings.

Over the next year, engineers from HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – will construct 292 piles under the ground to support the viaduct piers.

On top of each group of piles – some of which will go up to 55m into the ground - a concrete pile cap will support the pier which will in turn support the full 6,000 tonne weight of the bridge structure above. Instead of hammering the piles into the ground, holes will be bored before being backfilled to create the pile.

The main deck of the viaduct will be built in sections at a temporary factory nearby before being assembled from north to south.

HS2 Ltd’s Central 1 Project Client Rohan Perin, said:

“The Colne Valley Viaduct will be one of HS2’s most iconic structures and it’s great to see work now starting in earnest. I’d like to thank the whole team for the huge amount of work they’ve done to get us to this point.”

Align’s Project Director Daniel Altier, added:

“I have no doubt that the viaduct will become one, if not the most striking element of HS2 phase 1 once complete. The way it will be constructed is going to be equally fascinating for engineers young and old. The sections for the deck will be fabricated at our main construction site to the west of London just inside the M25, and using a huge launching girder, the deck will be formed from north to south, along the line of the route, thereby keeping unnecessary construction traffic off the roads.

I am delighted that today we have reached this important milestone in the viaduct’s construction.”

Over the last six years, HS2 has worked closely with Affinity Water and the Environment Agency to monitor water quality and agree working methods. These will be monitored by a team of specialist engineers during construction in order to protect the natural environment.

An extensive programme of test piling has already been completed with engineers sinking 12piles at two locations with geological and structural data from these tests fed back into the design of the viaduct. This has resulted in a 10-15% reduction in the depth of the piles and associated time and cost savings.

HS2 reveals ambitious plans to create one of the largest areas of chalk grassland on the edge of the Chilterns in the Colne Valley

03 March 2021

• The project will contribute towards a localised net gain in biodiversity within the Colne Valley

• 127 hectares of new chalk grassland, woodland, wood pasture and wetland habitats to be created

• 65,000 trees and shrubs of 32 species, and 3.5km of new hedgerows to be planted

• New CGIs released showing what the area will look like: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/c9U8W40fCuR0

An ambitious scheme, designed by HS2’s landscape architects, ecologists, engineers and soil specialists, aims to reuse construction materials to create 127 hectares of new chalk grassland, woodland, wood pasture and wetland habitats that will substantially enhance the local natural environment.

The Colne Valley Western Slopes project will be a major contributor in meeting HS2’s carbon reduction targets by delivering significant ecological gain in the Colne Valley. It will also reduce the carbon footprint of the project by reducing road haulage and waste treatment activities and will enable habitats to sequester carbon by replacing arable land with natural habitats.

Plant species and habitats are being carefully selected to be resilient to a changing climate. Almost 65,000 trees and shrubs of 32 species will be planted together with nearly 3.5km of new hedgerows. Around 90 hectares of calcareous grasslands which once thrived on the valley slopes will be established and areas of historic woodland reinstated.

The project, being designed and delivered by HS2’s civils contractor Align, will provide wider health and recreation benefits for neighbouring communities including the provision of new connected green spaces and around 4.5km of new footpath, cycling and horse-riding routes.

Arable land that is initially needed for a major works compound to construct the Colne Valley Viaduct and Chilterns Tunnel will be transformed through the re-use of existing soils and recycling of three million m3 of chalk taken from the tunnel excavation, as well as concrete and limestone aggregate materials used in the construction process.

Reusing materials rather than transporting them away by road will significantly reduce carbon output. The excavated material will be used to re-establish the locally distinctive chalk valley landscape, replicate natural drainage flows and establish the right growing conditions for calcareous grassland across the site.

Calcareous grasslands, which develop on shallow soils overlying chalk or limestone, are a valuable, scarce and rapidly declining habitat in the UK, with this decline reflected in both the Colne Valley and adjacent Chiltern Hills. The neighbouring Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is currently thought to support around 700 hectares of chalk grassland. This collaborative project will provide a unique opportunity to create one of the largest extents of such habitat in this area.

New planting and seeding will create an extensive mosaic of habitat that will potentially be colonised by hundreds of species of flora and fauna, including invertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

HS2’s Environment Director Peter Miller said:

“This project forms a major part of HS2’s Green Corridor programme to establish better connected, sustainable and biodiverse landscapes along the route of the new railway that will contribute substantially to HS2’s carbon reduction target. It demonstrates HS2’s approach to addressing many of the complex issues surrounding climate change and which are central to protecting our environment, and is a great example of how good design and planning can mitigate the effects of climate change.”

Daniel Altier, Project Director from Align said:

“This innovative, multi-discipline project is designed to create a huge expanse of new grassland, connected woodland and wood pasture in the Colne Valley, helping to preserve declining or rare flora and fauna in the area, and providing a lasting legacy for biodiversity and local people. We are pleased to be collaborating on the design with Natural England, Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, the Colne Valley Regional Park Panel, local authorities, and specialist soils experts.”

Simon Railton, Landscape Architecture lead from the LDA Design / Jacobs team (on behalf of Align-D) said:

“Our proposals are the result of a truly collaborative endeavour which has compelling landscape and ecological objectives at its centre. This is a rare opportunity to establish, at scale, a distinctive and multi-layered landscape, which is inspired by and grounded in the context of the Colne Valley and Chiltern Hills.

“We aim to create a landscape which is both rich in biodiversity and a place for people to explore and connect with the natural environment. In doing this we are embracing sustainable design solutions such as green travel opportunities and reuse of construction materials to help achieve ambitious carbon reduction targets.

“Our design team is passionate about achieving an enduring environmental legacy for the project and playing our part in addressing some the biggest issues of our time around climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Matt Hobbs, Ecology lead from Jacobs (on behalf of Align-D) said:

“The Colne Valley Western Slopes is a unique opportunity to give something back for wildlife by creating a large new reserve dedicated to nature in the Colne Valley. The design will deliver habitats that are the biggest and best possible, and those that will succeed and thrive over the long term with minimal human input.

“We initially focussed on soils and substrates, the essential building blocks for the habitats, and ensuring they are provided using site-won soils, chalk and temporary works materials. The key challenge is creating the necessary physical and chemical characteristics of the soil profiles to support resilient, biodiverse grasslands and the specialist species that thrive there. This is the subject of an innovative research study with Cranfield University and Tim O’Hare Associates that will involve both laboratory and field trials during construction to fine-tune the design.

“A key challenge with habitat creation is how to establish and then maintain the habitats over the long term. The team’s approach uses local land managers who will let natural processes operate and introduce free-roaming livestock to graze the habitats year-round. This will reduce management inputs, increase soil health, soil carbon, and overall biodiversity, while creating a dynamic landscape of wood pasture and wetland over time. The designs include all the necessary infrastructure to support grazing animals year-round including fencing, cattle grids, management areas and wetlands for watering.

“Numerous small-scale features have been included to diversify the habitat further. These include s-shaped sparsely vegetated banks for reptiles and invertebrates, and hibernacula to provide refuges for reptiles and amphibians, as well as localised variations in topography to provide niches for many species to colonise.”

Align is currently preparing the site for the launch of the two tunnel boring machines that will excavate the 16km-long Chiltern Tunnels. Once launched in 2021, the site will receive a continuous supply of chalk until tunnel completion in 2024.  Field trials are in preparation ahead of final seeding, and planting of trees and shrubs in 2025.  At peak, around 1,200 people are expected to be employed in the design and construction of the Chiltern tunnels and the viaduct, with 50 opportunities for apprentices.

Once detailed design is complete, the local community will be able to see the full plans at our online ‘you said, we did’ webinars which are currently planned for:

• Webinar 1 – 23 March, 12:30pm

• Webinar 2 – 25 March, 18:30pm

People can register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/colne-valley-western-slopes-and-south-portal-design-update-tickets-140864169523

Cheshire-based company doubles workforce thanks to HS2 contract

22 February 2021

Wincham-based Select Plant Hire has almost doubled the size of its Cheshire depot and workforce after winning a contract to supply eco-cabins at HS2 construction sites.

Select has an extensive network of offices and support centres across the UK and over the last 18 months, it has nearly doubled the amount of staff at its Cheshire site, going from 50 to 90 employees. Eight of those employees are apprentices and earlier this month (11th February) Select was awarded ‘Apprentice Employer of the Year’ by Trafford College.

The company has already supplied over 100 eco-cabins to HS2’s biggest construction site on the project. The south tunnel portal site, near the M25, is where two tunnel boring machines will be launched to dig the 10-mile-long Chiltern tunnels and the tunnels towards HS2’s Old Oak Common Station in London.

The modular construction units supplied by the Select team are used as site accommodation offices for the hundreds of construction workers based at the tunnel portal site. The modular-build approach adopted by the Select team provides an eco-friendly solution, with the accommodation units designed and constructed in Cheshire and then quickly assembled on site.

Chris Brown, Operations Manager at Select Plant Hire said:

“Our contract to supply bespoke modular accommodation units for HS2 has been a huge win for our business, allowing us to expand in size and employ more people from the local area.

“In the current climate, that’s a huge relief, knowing that we’ve secured a pipeline of work that’s enabled us to grow.”

Select is supplying more modular units to HS2’s satellite construction sites in Hertfordshire and, with confirmation that the HS2 line will extend to Crewe, after Royal Assent was granted on 11 February 2021, the company is confident of its ability to win more work supporting the delivery of Britain’s new railway in the future.

2,000 businesses have already won work on HS2, with over 100 of those based in the North-West of England. 

David Poole, HS2 Ltd’s Procurement and Commercial Director said:

“HS2 has a vital role to play in Britain’s economic recovery. Our contract awards to businesses right across the country are not only helping to secure jobs, they’re creating them too.

“I’m delighted to see Select investing in bringing more young talent into the firm, through new apprenticeship opportunities, and that HS2 has helped to spearhead this growth.”

HS2 reveals Chilterns ‘barn design’ vent shaft for Chalfont St Giles

05 February 2021

• Images of the headhouse design can be found here.

• Residents can find out more about the design and construction of the shaft and headhouse at a dedicated community online information event later this month.

HS2 has revealed the final design for the latest of its ‘barn design’ headhouses that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the ten-mile long Chiltern tunnel.

Set into a fold in the Chiltern hills near Chalfont St Giles, the headhouse is designed to fit into the surrounding landscape and takes its inspiration from the style of nearby barns and other agricultural buildings.

Like the nearby headhouse at Chalfont St Peter - which gained planning permission last month - the single-story building will be wrapped in a simple grey zinc roof with doors and vent openings picked out in a dark bronze colour to provide contrast. The pre-weathered grey zinc roof will age naturally over time, without loss of robustness or quality, while the whole structure will sit on a simple dark blue brick base.

Below ground level, a 43 metre ventilation shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

HS2 engaged with the Chilterns AONB Review Group and Buckinghamshire Council during the development of the designs and held a series of public engagement events to gather views from the local community.

Mature trees along the existing boundary will be retained as far as possible and once construction is complete the whole site will be landscaped with new trees and hedgerows planted to help screen the site from neighbouring properties.

Within the site boundaries, species-rich grassland habitats will be created, designed to further blend the site into the surrounding Chiltern hills. Material excavated from the shaft will be used to create much of the landscaping and avoid putting extra lorries onto local roads.

The plans were drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick - working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, and the architect Grimshaw and landscape designers, LDA.

Rohan Perin, HS2 Ltd’s Project Client Director said: 

“Throughout the design process we have been very aware of the unique setting of the rural headhouse structures and the importance of creating something that fits into the landscape. We remain committed to listening to feedback from the local community as we begin the build phase and will work to reduce disruption as far as possible.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“The Align team has worked to significantly reduce the scale and visual impact of the structure. Our designers engaged with local stakeholders to design the headhouse that provides operational functionality within the smallest possible footprint and which will keep the construction and environmental impact during the build to a minimum.”

A new temporary marshalled lorry holding area has also been established on the A413 near Gerrards Cross. HGVs can be held in this newly surfaced layby until their approach to the vent shaft site is clear – helping to reduce congestion and eliminate queueing at the site entrance.

The two tunnel boring machines that will excavate the Chiltern tunnels are set to launch from a site near the M25 later this year.

HS2’s Chilterns ‘barn design’ vent shaft gains planning approval

26 January 2021

• Images showing the designs can be found here: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/tbms-and-tunnels-massive-machines-and-their-current-progress/chalfont-st-peter-headhouse

The first of five headhouses that will provide ventilation and emergency access to HS2’s ten-mile long Chiltern tunnel has gained planning approval from Buckinghamshire Council.

The Chalfont St Peter headhouse is designed to fit into the surrounding landscape and takes its inspiration from the style of nearby barns and other agricultural buildings.

Set back from the road, the single-story building will be wrapped in a simple grey zinc roof with doors and vent openings picked out in a dark bronze colour to provide contrast. The pre-weathered grey zinc roof will age naturally over time, without loss of robustness or quality, while the whole structure will sit on a simple dark blue brick base.

Below ground level, a 78 metre ventilation shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

HS2 engaged with the Chilterns AONB Review Group and Buckinghamshire Council during the development of the designs and held a series of public engagement events to gather views from the local community.

Mature trees along the existing boundary will be retained as far as possible and once construction is complete the whole site will be landscaped with new trees and hedgerows planted to help screen the site from neighbouring properties.

Within the site boundaries, species-rich grassland habitats will be created, designed to further blend the site into the surrounding Chiltern hills. Material excavated from the shaft will be used to create much of the landscaping and avoid putting extra lorries onto local roads.

The plans were drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick - working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, and the architect Grimshaw and landscape designers, LDA.

Rohan Perin, HS2 Ltd’s Project Client Director said: 
“Planning approval for the Chalfont St Peter headhouse is a major milestone for the project and I’d like to thank all those who have helped get us to this stage. Throughout the design process we have been very aware of the unique rural setting of the headhouse structures and the importance of creating something that fits into the landscape. I’m glad that aspiration has been recognised and look forward to working closely with the council and community as we bring forward the designs for the remaining structures.”

Alan Price, Align JV Design Director said:

‘We are always very conscious of the sensitive setting for any permanent structures on the project and the Chalfont St Peter headhouse is no exception. As well as splitting up the buildings to create the farmyard feel, we have created a shallow basement structure to hide the ventilation equipment below ground. We are very pleased that this has been recognised by the local planning authority in granting this approval.’

A temporary access road has already been completed to link the site with the A413, Amersham Road. This will allow construction traffic to avoid the centre of Chalfont St Peter and stop heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) driving past Robertswood School and the Epilepsy Society.

A new temporary marshalled lorry holding area has also been established on the A413 near Gerrards Cross. HGVs can be held in this newly surfaced layby until their approach to the vent shaft site is clear – helping to reduce congestion and eliminate queueing at the site entrance.

The two tunnel boring machines that will excavate the Chiltern tunnels are set to launch from a site near the M25 later this year.

HS2 contractors win international Green Apple Environment Award

22 January 2021

• Competing against 500 other nominees worldwide, HS2’s main works civils contractor Align JV and civil engineering company Roadbridge have won a Green Apple Environment Award in the Innovation category for their use of thermal camera drones to spot Skylark nests.

The Green Apple Awards are run by the Green Organisation – an international, independent, environment group that recognises, rewards and promotes environmental best practice around the world.

Align JV, which will deliver the portion of HS2 that includes the Chiltern Tunnel and the Colne Valley Viaduct, working with its contractor Roadbridge, introduced thermal camera drones to dramatically improve the accuracy of nesting birds’ surveys, helping to protect the species and enable faster and more effective results for ecologists working on the project.

As ground-nesting birds with well camouflaged nests, Skylarks are very difficult to survey, but using a thermal camera, the drone can calibrate to the ground temperature and other objects to lock onto a heat source and identify the birds’ nests extremely accurately.

HS2’s Environment Director Peter Miller said:

“Protecting the natural environment as we build Britain’s new low-carbon railway is at the heart of everything we do. Some of the country’s most experienced and leading ecological consultants are working on the project, and we’re extremely pleased to see environmental innovations such as this gain international recognition and create new levels of best practice in the sector.”

Adam Cockayne, Environment Manager at Align JV said:

“Align is responsible for all ecological matters on this part of the HS2 project, and we’ve been working with Roadbridge on this innovation to ensure that the earthworks we’re carrying out do not disturb nesting birds in the area. Building on the success of the programme, we’re now planning to find other uses for thermal camera drones to benefit HS2’s ecological monitoring programme and are excited for what the future may hold.”

Vincent Ryan, Environmental Advisor at Roadbridge said:

“We’re delighted to win this international award for our environmental innovation. As a result of this award we have been invited to accept Green Apple World Ambassador status which means our winning paper will be published in the Green Book - the leading international work of reference for environmental best practice, so that others can follow our example and learn from the innovation.”

At twelve metres above ground level the drone captures approximately a 9m2 area, providing a reduction in search times, and a clear perspective from a 90-degree view of the ground below. Using a thermal camera, the drone can calibrate to the ground temperature and other objects to lock onto a heat source and identify the birds’ nests. This includes birds on the nest, eggs on the nest and birds sheltering on the ground.

Exclusion zones are then put on Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings and into the Global Positioning System (GPS) of machinery working on site to let operators know when they are working near exclusion zones, to protect nests and allow works to progress safely.

HS2’s first giant tunnelling machines arrive in the UK

08 December 2020

• HS2’s first two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) – Florence and Cecilia - have arrived in the UK ahead of their launch early next year

• The two 170m-long TBMs – the largest ever used on a UK rail project - will this week start to be assembled on site ready to begin digging the 10-mile-long Chiltern tunnels

• New images and drone footage showing the Chiltern tunnel site and journey of the TBMs to the UK can be found here: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/2b9WD29woKwl

HS2’s first two giant Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) have arrived in the UK and will be ready to start work on the UK’s largest infrastructure project early next year.

The two enormous 2,000 tonne machines – named Florence and Cecilia – will now be meticulously reassembled, tested and commissioned, by an expert team of tunnelling engineers, before they start work on the high speed rail project’s first tunnels.

The 10-mile-long ‘twin bore’ Chiltern tunnel will be the longest on the project, the first to start construction, with the TBMs set to be underground, working 24/7 for more than three years.

Welcoming the news, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston said: 

“The launch of our first tunnelling machines will be a defining moment in the history of HS2 – and our work to deliver a high speed railway that will offer a low-carbon alternative for journeys across the UK.

“Construction is now well underway, with more than 13,000 jobs supported by the project, both directly and in our UK-wide supply chain. The arrival of Florence and Cecilia is a major step forward and our expert team will now work to assemble, test and commission them before their launch next year.”

Designed specifically for the mix of chalk and flints under the Chilterns, the two identical TBMs will dig separate tunnels for north and southbound trains, with Florence set to launch first and Cecilia to follow a few weeks behind.

Each machine operates as a self-contained underground factory, which as well as digging the tunnel, will also line it with concrete wall segments and grout them into place as it moves forward at a speed of 15 meters a day. Each tunnel will require 56,000 segments – which will all be made on site. A crew of 17 people will operate each TBM, working in shifts to keep the machines running 24/7. They will be supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation.

These first two TBMs will be operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Align Project Director Daniel Altier commented:

“Now that the parts have arrived the detailed job of assembling and commissioning the machines has begun.

“There are also considerable other activities continuing on our site to prepare for the launch of Florence and Cecilia next year. This includes the construction of a factory that will manufacture the concrete segments to be used to line the tunnel and a slurry treatment plant that will process material from the tunnels.”

The Align Joint Venture expects to recruit 1,200 vacancies, with over 100 opportunities for apprentices. They plan to target their recruitment and investment in upskilling local people who are currently unemployed, with a particular focus on women, under 25s and those with disabilities.

This is another great example of the vital role HS2 continues to play in the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create  employment, which has helped millions of people to continue to provide for their families over the past eight months of the COVID-19 crisis.

Built by Herrenknecht, a world leader in TBM manufacturing, at its factory in south-west Germany, the two 170m long machines were transported to the UK in more than 300 separate shipments over the course of two months, with the parts now safely delivered to the Align Chiltern tunnel site, to the west of London just inside the M25.

The names of the two TBMs were suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon and The Chalfonts Community College, Buckinghamshire, which are close to the tunnel launch site. They were inspired by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern medicine, and pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin.

Around 4,500 people from across the UK took part in the poll to select the final names, with Florence taking 40% of the vote and Cecilia a close second with 32%

HS2 boosts safety and efficiency with innovative robot for Chiltern tunnelling machines

04 November 2020

• A video showing the robot at work and interviews with Daniel Altier, Project Director and James Reilly, TBM Engineer is available here: https://youtu.be/xruGsFPV4Gw

HS2 today unveiled the use of an innovative onboard robot that will improve safety and efficiency on the high speed rail project’s first two giant tunnelling machines, set to launch early next year.

Pioneered by HS2’s main works contractor, Align, the Krokodyl robot is the first of its kind anywhere in the world and will be installed in the two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will be used to bore the 10 mile (16km) long Chiltern tunnels.

The Krokodyl robot, working in a similar manner to the robotic arms used in a car factory production line, will carry out  simple repetitive tasks – removing wooden spacers between tunnel segments and inserting connection dowels – that people would normally do.

Each of the segments weighs up to eight tonnes and are delivered to the TBM with wooden spacers between them which are generally removed by hand. By fully automating this process, the Krokodyl removes the need for people to work in this potentially hazardous area and helps with the installation of the 112,000 tunnel segments.

The tunnel segments are erected – as the TBM moves forward – in order to form a structural water tight ring designed to support the ground loads.

A second feature of the robot, known as the Dobydo, then places the dowels into position ready for the segment to be slotted into place. Again, by automating this process, the robot reduces risk to people and improve safety and efficiency.

The Align joint venture – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – built on their experience of delivering major tunnelling project across the world to develop the Krokodyl.

Eddie Woods, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Tunnelling said:

“Safety is a key priority for HS2 and the introduction of these innovations that essentially remove personnel from harm’s way, is an excellent example of the sort of initiatives we are pleased to see implemented on the project. It is one of the ways that 'safe at heart' can be achieved by minimising exposure in high risk locations.”

Didier Jacques, Align's Underground Construction Director said:

“Safety is a key value that is shared by everyone working on HS2, including the client, Align itself and our supply chain partners. A lot of work has been undertaken by all concerned that has enabled us to develop and introduce this robot, thereby reducing the risk to our personnel, operating in our state of the art TBMs. We are very proud of these innovations which we would be happy to share with tunnelling teams working on other projects across the world, to help reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries.”

The two 2,000 tonne TBMs – named ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’ - are due to be launched early next year from a site close to the M25.

Both 170m long machines are specifically designed for the mix of chalk and flint they will encounter under the Chilterns. Operating a pioneering ‘continuous boring’ technique, they are expected to take around 3 years to excavate the 9.1m metre diameter tunnels which will be lined with a concrete ring made of seven separate segments as they go.

The TBMs will convert the spoil into slurry which will be pumped back to the Align main site where it will be treated before being used for landscaping on-site, removing the need for additional HGVs on local roads.

Latest designs revealed for Little Missenden’s HS2 vent shaft headhouse

30 October 2020

• Images available here

HS2 Ltd has revealed the final design for the Little Missenden vent shaft headhouse, which will provide ventilation and emergency access to the high-speed railway’s 10 mile-long Chilterns tunnel below.

The headhouse is one of four that will be built above a vent shafts leading down to the high speed rail tunnel below and is similar in style to the HS2 headhouse at Chalfont St Peter announced earlier this year.

Set back from the main A413, the single storey design is inspired by barns and historic agricultural buildings found in the surrounding area. This has influenced the building’s dark and neutral colours, which are designed to fit into the surrounding landscape and to weather naturally over time.

The landscaping around the headhouse, for which designers took inspiration from the surrounding natural environment including native trees and chalk grasslands, has been designed to screen the building through planting and blending it into the landscape.

The Little Missenden headhouse will sit atop a 17.4m diameter, 30m deep ventilation shaft that will reach down to the railway’s twin tunnels below. It will contain fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature in the tunnels, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

In addition to the headhouse the site will include an autotransformer electricity station and a stair and vent building both of which carry similar design cues. 

The plans have been drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

HS2 Ltd’s senior project manager, Mark Clapp said:

“Designs for the Little Missenden headhouse are the culmination of many hours’ work to develop a scheme that both serves the needs of operating HS2 and is in keeping with local design heritage.

“Our four-week engagement with the community is an opportunity for them to tell us their views of the scheme. As part of this programme we’ve arranged three online webinars where people will hear about how the designs were developed.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“The Align team has worked to significantly reduce the scale and visual impact of the structure. We are therefore excited to be revealing our designs for the Little Missenden vent shaft headhouse. Our designers have worked closely with stakeholders to design something that provides the operational functionality within the smallest possible footprint, reducing local construction and environmental impacts as far as practicable during the build.”

Ian Thomas, Engineering Manager for designers Align D, said:

“Set back from the A413 dual-carriage way, the single-story buildings will be wrapped in a landscaping solution that minimises their visual impact. Taking its inspiration from the style of local barns and other agricultural buildings, the headhouse is designed to fit into the surrounding landscape. The pre-weathered grey zinc roof will age naturally over time, without loss of robustness or quality.”

“These proposals are the result of integrated work across the design team, alongside collaborative engagement with the Chilterns AONB Review Group.”

Today’s news accompanies a four-week public engagement programme, which is seeking people’s views on aspects of the scheme including the design of the headhouse as well as plans for landscape and the area’s ecology. Click here to access information about the designs and online survey.

During the engagement period HS2 Ltd will be holding three online webinars on 4, 9 and 12 November. For more information please click here.

The engagement period ends 25 November.

Notts engineers deliver steel for HS2’s biggest tunnel site

15 September 2020

HS2 has passed another major milestone at the high speed rail project’s first tunnel site, with the completion of structural work on the temporary pre-cast factory which will produce wall sections for the 10 mile long Chiltern tunnels.

The tunnel precast factory – and all 2,400 tonnes of structural steelwork at the south portal site, next to the M25 – will be made in the UK and delivered by specialist steel fabricators, Caunton Engineering, from their base near Moregreen, Nottinghamshire.

The factory will allow HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV - a joint venture made up of three companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – to cast all the tunnel segments on site and avoid putting extra HGVs onto local roads.

Two giant tunnelling machines – named Florence and Cecilia - are due to launch next year. The 170m long, 2,200 tonne machines will spend more than 3 years underground and use 112,000 concrete segments to line the tunnels, moving at a speed of 15.6m a day.

A second precast plant will be used to cast sections for the nearby Colne Valley Viaduct. Once work is complete, the pre-cast plants will be disassembled and the whole site will be landscaped with material excavated from the tunnels and trees planted in order to blend it in with the surrounding countryside.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2 Ltd’s C1 Senior Project Manager, Mark Clapp said:

“The pre-cast plant will play a crucial role in delivering the Chiltern tunnels. By casting all 112,000 segments on site, we can significantly reduce the number of HGVs on local roads, reducing disruption for the local community.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Align and especially Caunton for their hard work in making it happen. Caunton’s involvement shows how HS2 is delivering for companies right across Britain, creating jobs and helping the economy recover from the pandemic.”

Daniel Altier, the Align Project Director, said:

“Caunton Engineering is delivering the steel for all the structural buildings at our south portal site, 15 in total. This includes two tunnel pre-cast factories, the tunnel workshop and warehouse, and the viaduct precast factory. In selecting Caunton we opted for a company that can deliver a high quality product and value for money. The selection of key suppliers such as Caunton is essential in order that we can deliver the project on time and on budget.”

As well as the precast plant, Caunton Engineering are also delivering structural steelwork for the general warehouse, workshops, soil treatment plant and the viaduct pre-cast plant. In total, around 2,400 tonnes of steelwork will be delivered from their factory in Moorgreen, Nottinghamshire, on the site of the former colliery.

Caunton, which employs 250 people in the east midlands is one of the UK's leading fully automated structural steelwork contractors and a leader in 'Just in Time' manufacturing. The family-owned firm has 50 years of experience in the sector also delivered steelwork for the iconic new Museum of Liverpool.

Matthew Shimwell, Caunton’s Managing Director said:

“We are thrilled to be working with the Align team in helping to deliver this key part of infrastructure work. The project is an excellent example of how early engagement with the supply chain brings real value to a project.

“This collaborative approach has helped to optimise the design of the buildings to more fully benefit from an informed DFMA approach (Design For Manufacture and Assembly). We wish the project team every success as it enters the next key stage in delivering this prestigious project.”

HS2 heralds formal start of construction as a 22,000 ‘jobs boost’ for Britain

4 September 2020

• Major milestone for Europe’s largest infrastructure project as it moves from enabling works to full construction following Government’s approval for Notice to Proceed in April

• HS2 Ltd and its Tier One contractors expect to recruit for around 22,000 roles in the coming years to build the Phase One route – offering people a path back into work after the pandemic

• HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “the reality of high speed journeys joining up Britain’s biggest cities in the North and Midlands and using that connectivity to help level up the country has just moved a step closer”

• NEW HS2 animations, infographics, drone footage and more available at this link: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/HoMPX6th7pT2

HS2 Ltd has today (4 September 2020) announced the formal start of construction on the project, highlighting the large number of jobs the project will be recruiting for in the coming months and years.

Earlier this year, on 15 April, the Department for Transport (DfT) gave approval for HS2 Ltd to issue Notice to Proceed (NtP) to the four Main Works Civils Contractors (MWCCs) working on the project (names in Notes to Editors) to commence full detailed design and construction of Phase One of the HS2 railway (the route from London – West Midlands).

Today’s symbolic announcement signals that the MWCCs are moving from enabling works, scheme design and preparatory work, to full construction of the railway.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“HS2 is at the heart of our plans to build back better – and with construction now formally underway, it’s set to create around 22,000 new jobs.

“As the spine of our country’s transport network, the project will be vital in boosting connectivity between our towns and cities.

“But HS2’s transformational potential goes even further. By creating hundreds of apprenticeships and thousands of skilled jobs, HS2 will fire up economic growth and help to rebalance opportunity across this country for years to come.”

The move to construction also heralded a ‘jobs boom’ on the project, demonstrating the value HS2 is bringing to the economy many years before it is complete, particularly in the post-COVID economic environment.

HS2’s main works contractor for the West Midlands, the Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture (BBV JV), along with its supply chain partners, has said it expects to be one of the biggest recruiters in the West Midlands over the next two years, with up to 7,000 skilled jobs required to complete its section of the HS2 route. The EKFB Joint Venture (Eiffage, Kier, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial) – building the section from the Long Itchington Wood site in Warwickshire south to the Chiltern tunnel portals, has said it will recruit over 4,000 roles in the next two years, many based in Milton Keynes, as work ramps up in the area.

HS2’s Tier One construction partners based in Greater London: Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS JV), Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA (BBVS JV), Align JV and Mace Dragados JV, confirmed that they will collectively recruit over 10,000 new jobs as HS2 gears up for major construction. HS2 Ltd itself is already directly recruiting for 500 new roles over the next three months, with the majority based in Birmingham, as the project moves into the construction phase. The forecast jobs boost is a clear sign of the key part that HS2 is already playing in supporting Britain’s post-coronavirus economic recovery.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“Today marks a major milestone in this government’s ambitions to build back better from Covid-19.

“Shovels in the ground to deliver this new railway means thousands of jobs building the future of our country’s infrastructure. This fantastic moment is what leaders across the North and Midlands have called for – action to level up our country by boosting capacity on our railways, improving connections between our regions, and spreading prosperity.”

Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd said:

“This is a hugely exciting moment in the progress of HS2. After 10 years of development and preparatory work, today we can formally announce the start of full construction, unlocking thousands of jobs and supply chain opportunities across the project.

“We are already seeing the benefits that building HS2 is bringing to the UK economy in the short term, but it’s important to emphasise how transformative the railway will be for our country when operational. With the start of construction, the reality of high speed journeys joining up Britain’s biggest cities in the North and Midlands and using that connectivity to help level up the country has just moved a step closer.”

The HS2 railway is a significant investment both in the near and longer-term economic health of the country. At this crucial time HS2 is already driving investment right across our country. Jobs, including apprenticeships, are beginning to be released on HS2’s construction partners’ websites and will also be promoted through employment partnerships with local authorities and specialist employment support agencies. Promoting job vacancies in this way helps HS2 to ensure that local people benefit from the thousands of opportunities available. HS2 forecasts that the project will create at least 2,000 apprenticeships on Phase One.

The Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture expects to recruit 7,000 construction jobs on the West Midlands section of the HS2 route, with women and under-25s the core focus for recruitment and skills investment.

Michael Dyke, Managing Director for BBV JV said:

“HS2 presents a significant opportunity for the West Midlands, with comprehensive plans to attract and retain the talented workforce required to deliver one of the most ambitious infrastructure schemes ever delivered in the UK now underway. 

“Working alongside HS2, local authorities and charities, we are committed to offering people of all ages and backgrounds across the West Midlands the chance to benefit from the wide range of employment opportunities available through the scheme, including numerous apprenticeship and graduate positions.” 

Skanska Costain STRABAG JV has confirmed that it will create an estimated 4,800 jobs, including employment for around 550 previously unemployed people and 400 apprenticeships.

James Richardson, Managing Director, Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture, said:

“The green light on HS2 has meant Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture can now create more jobs and apprenticeships for the communities we’re working within and strengthen our industry for the future.

“We value our work in partnership with charities and communities to help promote these opportunities. This means we can attract the best talent, support those who might face barriers to returning to work, and make sure we’re representative of the communities we serve”.

Align JV expects to recruit 1,200 vacancies, with over 100 opportunities for apprentices. They plan to target their recruitment and investment in upskilling local people who are currently unemployed, with a particular focus on women, under 25s and those with disabilities.

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“At Align we are committed to leaving a skills and employment legacy to the local communities alongside our works, and to this end we are working closely with local schools, universities and organisations to ensure local people are able to access opportunities for employment, apprenticeships and work experience.”

BBVS will employ a workforce of approximately 1,400 to support the construction of Old Oak Common Station. As well as providing over 250 apprenticeship positions, the joint venture is committed to attracting local candidates, of all ages and backgrounds.

Nigel Russell, Project Director for Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA said:

“HS2 is critical to the economic resilience of the UK and essential in driving the skills agenda forward; providing a variety of employment opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, including a number of graduate and apprenticeship positions.

“As works begin to ramp up at Old Oak Common, we are now turning our attention to attracting, training and retaining the best talent, offering the opportunity to work on the largest new station built in the UK in over 100 years and play a key role in delivering Britain’s first low carbon, high speed railway.”

Mace Dragados JV, who this month moved onto the construction site adjacent to Euston station, forecasts that it will need 3,000 workers to help deliver the capital’s new central high speed station.

Mace Dragados Project Director, Martyn Woodhouse, said:

“The construction of HS2’s Euston Station is an amazing opportunity to get into the heart of the local community and provide not just jobs but lasting careers. People sometimes focus on the construction jobs but there’s so many more careers available on a big project like this and we want everyone to get involved.”

David Lowery, Director of EKFB JV said:

“It’s our mission at EKFB to use the platform of the HS2 project to lead the transformation of our industry, influence future generations, support the UK economy and leave a legacy that improves people’s lives.

“The creation of around 4000 jobs provides an unprecedented opportunity to do this. The focus of our employment legacy will be apprenticeships, worklessness and supporting people in education. We will also provide training and work experience programmes that can lead to employment opportunities for younger and other unemployed individuals, as well as working to attract underrepresented groups.”

An estimated 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities for UK businesses will be created during Phase One of HS2, supporting thousands of jobs on site and many more around the country. It is estimated that around 95% of those contract opportunities will be won by UK based businesses and around two thirds of those will be small and medium sized businesses. HS2 will also significantly improve connectivity in the North and Midlands and will also integrate the existing network serving stations into Scotland, creating hundreds of thousands of extra jobs and an estimated 90,000 homes around HS2 stations.

Hertfordshire pupil’s plea to HS2 secures new school play area

24 August 2020

Today (Monday 24 August) Three Rivers District Council has granted planning permission for a new landscaped play area for Maple Cross JMI school in Maple Cross near Rickmansworth, bringing a request to HS2 from a local pupil to life.

The ambitious project to redesign the school’s grounds was initiated by a letter to HS2 from a child in Year Six at Maple Cross JMI, which asked that some of the material being excavated at the nearby South Portal construction site be brought to the school to “make a mound to roll down”.

After receiving the letter, HS2 developed a year-long programme of engagement between artist and designer Emily Cropton and the pupils, staff and wider community, in order to make the pupil’s wish come true.

The project involved educational workshops with school children in different year groups, in which they learnt about local history and the natural environment, and developed ideas for the design of their new play space.

Planning permission granted by Three Rivers District Council now means that HS2’s main works civils joint venture Align will start the landscaping phase of the project by moving soil from its construction site 600m south of the school.

During the Autumn, Align’s local contractors will work with Emily Cropton to create the new play area which will include an orchard of fruit trees, a meadow of flowering plants, an area of scattered tree trunks for climbing, and a willow tunnel. There will also be a fossil wall built of clay bricks designed with the children, showing what might be found at Maple Cross in another two million years and the stories these fossils will pass on.

HS2’s Head of Arts and Culture Anne Mullins said:

“HS2 has been working with Maple Cross JMI School for some time, and this project is a key part of our ongoing engagement with the local community, reflecting our commitment to being a good neighbour to people along HS2’s route.

“The project itself is part of HS2’s arts and culture programme which works closely with local authorities and cultural organisations to develop projects that enhance the heritage of local areas along the route of the railway. As part of this, HS2’s engineers, landscape architects, designers, architects, ecologists, and heritage teams develop plans for integrating art and design into the landscape around the railway.”

Since the start of the school year in 2019, Emily Cropton has been working closely with Headteacher Hannah Trickett and HS2 to deliver educational activities for the children, including mapping the micro-climates of the school field, learning about the history of the local landscape, and writing stories about the importance of the natural environment.

Headteacher at Maple Cross JMI, Hannah Trickett said:

"It has been both a pleasure and incredible learning experience working with Emily. She has brought a passion, commitment and engagement beyond what we could have dreamt. Her dedication to the project and working with children to provide learning opportunities they would not usually experience has been phenomenal."

Artist and designer Emily Cropton said:

"This project has created a fantastic opportunity for the children to engage with their local environment. Through mapping, making and storytelling activities the children have learned about the natural and cultural forces that shape the landscape over time. Working with the children has brought a different perspective to my personal research and I’ve been hugely impressed with their ideas, which have contributed significantly to the design of the new natural play space.

“The design creates a landscape of contrasts, with ridges and valleys, light and shade, tall grasses and short grasses. Pathways and journeys invite the children to play in a different way and the life cycle of the wildflower meadow, orchard and fossil wall create a place to learn about time and celebrate the seasons. I’m very much looking forward to helping the design come to life over the next six months."

Align’s Project Director, Daniel Altier said:

“Align is delighted to be involved in this project, as are our local supply chain contractors. It provides a great opportunity to leave a legacy for children in the local area and will hopefully help to inspire the next generation of engineers. It has also been a pleasure to work with the school and its governors to deliver Emily’s wonderful design.”

Through the detailed design, planning and construction phases of the project Emily’s work with the school will continue. In particular, the construction phase will be an interesting and important period, and the school children will be able to observe the soil being moved, learn how the design is ‘set-out’ on the field and take part in planting.

HS2 has also been working with the school on other projects, including improving their pond and building new habitats, with enabling works contractor Fusion donating wooden benches, hanging baskets and planters. The school have taken part in HS2’s Growing Spaces project, which is run in partnership with local business Growing Ideas, to install allotment boxes in primary schools and teach children about nutrition and the science of growing your own fresh produce. In addition, Hertfordshire County Council were successful in applying to HS2’s Road Safety Fund to make pedestrian safety improvements to roads near the school.

HS2 reveals design for Amersham vent shaft headhouse

20 August 2020

HS2 today revealed the design for the Amersham vent shaft headhouse – one of five structures that will be built to provide ventilation and emergency access to the high-speed rail line’s 10 mile-long Chiltern tunnel.

• Images showing the headhouse design can be found here: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/wPRmc3KwdlBT

Set in the middle of a road junction just outside the town, the circular single-storey building will be surrounded by a spiral shaped weathered steel wall designed to echo the shape of the site and the natural tones of the surrounding landscape.

Robust and durable, weathered steel fades naturally over time to a dark brown colour. In order to let light through, the upper parts of the wall will be lightly perforated with a pattern inspired by woodland foliage.

On top of the building, a crown of aluminium fins will help disguise the shape of the building and soften views when viewed from further away.

Below ground level, a 18 metre deep ventilation shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

HS2 engaged with the Chilterns AONB Review Group and Buckinghamshire Council during the development of the designs and this week launched an online virtual engagement site to gather views from the local community.

Kay Hughes, HS2 Ltd’s Design Director said: 

“Today’s reveal of the latest designs for the Amersham vent shaft and headhouse is an important milestone for the project. Inspired by the location and the form of the shaft beneath, the headhouse will be one of the few parts of the Chiltern tunnel visible to residents living nearby so it was important that we get the design right. Align and their design partners have put an incredible amount of work into these proposals and I hope the design will be welcomed by the local community.”

The plans have been drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick - working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, architects Grimshaw and landscape designers, LDA Design.

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“We are excited to be revealing our early designs for the Amersham vent shaft headhouse. Our designers have worked closely with stakeholders to design something that reduces local construction impacts as far as practicable during the build.  We now look forward to giving the local community their opportunity to provide their thoughts on the design”

Since the passing of the HS2 Act, the Align team has worked to significantly reduce the scale and visual impact of the structure. By reducing the width of the shaft, the new designs require less land for construction and fewer lorry movements on local roads.

Once construction is complete, new tree planting will be added to frame views of the headhouse and areas will be set aside for chalk grassland to help create valuable new wildlife habitats. The new planting will focus on native species typically found across the Chilterns, such as wild cherry, buckthorn and crab apple.

Chris Patience, Associate at Grimshaw, said:

“Sited in the Chilterns, this head house is designed to be a local landmark on the western edge of Amersham. Its expressive architecture exploits its unique context, surrounded by roads, and its function, ventilating the high-speed rail tunnels below.

“Flint-filled gabions form retaining walls within a site that will be extensively landscaped. Retained mature trees, supplemented with new planting, will frame views of the new structures. The site compound is wrapped in a weathering steel wall which follows the curvature and topography of the site. The higher parts of the wall are perforated with varying triangular patterns, derived from the surrounding tree foliage, allowing light to filter through.

“Behind the screen, the conical headhouse shows the shape and location of the circular ventilation shaft below. The top of the building is crowned by an array of anodised aluminium fins, set out to respond to the shape of the surrounding valley and longer distance views.

“These proposals are the result of integrated work across the design team, alongside collaborative engagement with the Chilterns AONB Review Group.”

The plans for the headhouse went on public display today, with local residents invited to attend a month-long virtual exhibition where they will be able to learn more about the design and construction of the vent shaft and headhouse.

Temporary access road to reduce HS2 traffic in Chalfont St Peter

19 August 2020

From this week, HS2 construction traffic will be able to avoid the centre of Chalfont St Peter, thanks to the completion of a new temporary access road.

The new 400m long road will take heavy good vehicles (HGVs) directly from the A413 Amersham Road to the site of the Chalfont St Peter vent shaft, avoiding the centre of the village, Robertswood School and the Epilepsy Society.

The 60m deep vent shaft is being built to provide ventilation and emergency access to the Chilterns tunnel. A single storey headhouse will be built on top containing fans and other technical equipment.

Once construction of the vent shaft is complete, the temporary access road will be removed and the land restored to its former condition. Mature trees will be retained at the perimeter of the vent shaft site, with new planting and wildlife habitats created around the building.

The road was completed over 3 months by a team led by HS2’s main works Contractor, Align JV - a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Rohan Perin, HS2 Ltd’s C1 Project Client Director said: 

“We recognise that our work will cause disruption to people living close to our construction sites. That’s why, over the last three months, we’ve worked to deliver a dedicated temporary access route to the vent shaft site. By taking heavy goods vehicles directly to the main road rather than going through the village, this new access road will make a big difference to people living and working in Chalfont St Peter.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“The creation of the temporary access road is direct result of our engagement with local stakeholders. We are delighted to be able build something that directly addressed the concerns raised by local communities and improves road safety for the local school and nursery as well as people visiting the Epilepsy Society”

In addition, a new temporary marshalled lorry holding area will also be put in place on the A413 near Gerrards Cross. HGVs can be held in this newly surfaced layby until their approach to the vent shaft site is clear – helping to reduce congestion and eliminate queueing at the site entrance.

The two projects are part of a package of mitigation measures designed to reduce the impact of construction on the local community.

Alongside the new access route, HS2 has also agreed to work with local highways authorities on a series of road improvements across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire designed to ease traffic flows during construction. This includes a new relief road at Chipping Warden, road widening and improvement at Wardington and junctions close to Great Missenden.

HS2 tunnelling machines set to leave factory with the names Florence and Cecilia topping public vote

11 August 2020

• Align JV’s first two enormous Tunnel Boring Machines completed in Germany ready to be shipped to the UK and begin the 10-mile-long Chiltern tunnel excavation

• First machine named after Florence Nightingale: the founder of modern nursing who spent many years living in Claydon, Buckinghamshire

• Second machine named after pioneering astronomer and astrophysicist, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who was born in Buckinghamshire

• New high res images and footage of the two completed machines at the factory can be found here: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/qabiGwvchS9T

HS2 has revealed the first images and publicly-chosen names of the first two completed giant Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) that will excavate the twin-bore Chiltern tunnel on the first phase of the UK’s new low carbon, high speed railway between London and the West Midlands.

The names – Florence and Cecilia – were suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon and The Chalfonts Community College, Buckinghamshire, inspired by female scientific and medical pioneers.

Around 4,500 people from across the UK took part in the poll to select the final names, with Florence taking 40% of the vote and Cecilia a close second with 32%. The schools that suggested the names are close to HS2’s South Portal site, from where the first tunnel boring machines will launch early next year.

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

 “These impressive tunnel boring machines will be instrumental in delivering the first stage of this transformative rail line between London and the West Midlands, and it is fitting that they bear the names Florence and Cecilia, two iconic women from this area whose achievements remain famous today.

“HS2 will provide better, more reliable connections that truly level up our country, boosting economic growth and sharing opportunities. I want to thank all the students who played a role in this milestone moment, and who will benefit from this high-speed railway for years to come.”

Welcoming the announcement, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston said: 

“The launch of our first tunnelling machines will be a defining moment in the history of HS2 – and our work to deliver a low carbon, high speed

railway that will change the way we travel in the UK.  

“I’d like to thank all the schools that took part in the first stage of the competition, the pupils who suggested the three shortlisted names, and all those who voted online. It’s great to see local communities engaging with the project, and schoolchildren being inspired by the scientific and technological

ambition of HS2.”

The first two TBMs will be operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

The enormous 2,000 tonne machines – which have been built by world-leading German tunnelling specialists Herrenknecht – will be shipped in pieces to the UK and arrive at Align's main site to the west of London just inside the M25 later this year.

‘Florence’ is set to be launched early next year to begin digging the 10-mile-long Chiltern tunnel. ‘Cecilia’ will launch around a month afterwards and dig the other half of the ‘twin bore’ tunnel.

Both 170m long machines are specifically designed for the mix of chalk and flint they will encounter under the Chilterns. Operating a ‘continuous boring’ technique, they are expected to take around 3 years to excavate the 9.1m metre diameter tunnels which will be lined with concrete as they go. The TBMs will mix the spoil with water to form a slurry which will be pumped back to the main site where it will be treated before being used for landscaping on-site, removing the need for additional HGVs on local roads. 

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

”Florence and Cecilia incorporate the latest technology which will be essential to ensure an efficient and safe excavation of the twin-bore tunnel. This will be the first time that some of the innovations we are introducing will have been used on any TBM worldwide.

"With STEM subjects a top priority in many schools, we are delighted that local schools have had the opportunity to get involved by selecting the names and we hope schoolchildren across the UK will be keen to monitor the progress of our TBMs over the next 3 years.”

Frédéric Battistoni, Herrenknecht, Head of Project Management Traffic Tunnelling said:

“It is a real pleasure to work with HS2 and specifically the team from Align, to deliver two machines that are uniquely designed to meet the challenges of constructing the Chiltern tunnel.”

Progress at Chiltern tunnel site as HS2 prepares for arrival of first tunnelling machines

30 July 2020

• Align JV team complete 17m headwall and ground reinforcement

• Latest images of the completed headwall can be found here: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/N9N97h8gGH-z

Preparation for the arrival of HS2’s first giant tunnelling machines has passed a major milestone with the completion of the 17m high headwall and ground reinforcement at what will become the south portal of the 10-mile long Chiltern tunnel.

A specialist team, led by HS2’s main works contractor Align JV – a joint venture formed of three companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – spent seven months excavating more than 160,000 m3 of material in order to create a level surface from which the two enormous machines will launch early next year.

Weighing in at 2,000 tonne and stretching for 170m – the two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are being built by world-leading German tunnelling specialists Herrenknecht – and due to arrive at the site, near to the M25, later in the year.

Alongside the excavation, a specialist team of subcontractors including Roadbridge and KV JV - formed from Keller Group plc and VSL International – also constructed a 17m high headwall through which the TBMs will break to begin their three-year long tunnel drive.

In order to reinforce the ground behind the headwall, more than 636 ‘soil nails’ – some up to 20m long – were driven into the wall and connected to the concrete lining. The nails, consisting of steel or glass fibre reinforced polymer tendons, were inserted using a specialised drilling rig in a delicate operation which can take up two hours.

This reinforcement is required to hold the ground and the surface of the wall in place as the TBMs begin to break through.

Welcoming the milestone, Mark Clapp, HS2 Ltd’s C1 Senior Project Manager said:

“Once complete, HS2 will transform rail travel across the UK, offering fast, reliable and low carbon journey options for millions of people across the country. The completion of the headwall and ground reinforcement is a major step towards the start of tunnelling and delivering on that goal.

“Safety is of course our top priority. The new covid-19 processes and procedures put in place by Align ensured that we were able to keep to schedule while keeping everyone safe – and I’d like to thank the whole team for pulling together during what has been a difficult few months for the whole construction industry."

Daniel Altier, the Align Project Director added:

“The completion of the soil nailing is a very visual example of how we are preparing our South Portal site for the arrival of the TBMs later this year. It is now clear for all to see where the TBMs will start their journey.

This has been a great team effort by all concerned, considering the challenges caused by Covid-19, including HS2, Align and our colleagues at Roadbridge and the KVJV.”

Align is delivering the C1 portion of HS2 phase 1 which includes the 10 mile long (16km) twin bore Chiltern tunnel and the 3.4km Colne Valley Viaduct. The work is being led by an integrated project team based at the site just inside the M25.

Work on site was paused for four days at the start of the coronavirus lockdown in order to deep clean the work site and put in place new hygiene and social distancing procedures in line with government advice and industry best practice.

Once work is complete, the whole construction site will be landscaped with material excavated from the tunnels and trees planted in order to blend it in with the surrounding countryside.

HS2 demonstrates commitment to preserving natural environment by using hi-tech thermal drone to monitor Skylarks

24 July 2020

Roadbridge, an Align JV contractor, has successfully adopted thermal drone imaging to monitor Skylarks in order to protect the species, dramatically increase the accuracy of environmental surveys, and enable faster and more effective results for ecologists working on the project.

Roadbridge, a sub-contractor to Align JV - the main works civils contractor that is delivering the portion of HS2 that includes the Chiltern Tunnel, has begun using the drones during its extensive environmental mitigation programme on the tunnel South Portal site next to the M25 in Buckinghamshire.

Monitoring nesting bird populations is crucial, providing accurate information which results in more effective ecological mitigation to protect the natural environment around work sites. At twelve metres above ground level the drone captures approximately a 9m2 area, providing a reduction in search times, and a clear perspective from a 90-degree view of the ground below. Using a thermal camera, the drone can calibrate to the ground temperature and other objects to lock onto a heat source and identify the bird nests. This includes birds on the nest, eggs on the nest and birds sheltering on the ground.

Exclusion zones are then put on Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings and into the Global Positioning System (GPS) of machinery working on site to let operators know when they are working near exclusion zones, to protect nests and allow works to progress safely.

During the initial trial, in three hours of drone survey time with one drone operator and one ecologist, five nests were found, compared to one nest found in 20 hours of survey time using traditional methods. Traditional surveys require ecologists to observe the Skylarks flying then running to their nest, and to use walking transect surveys to accurately locate them, which can be invasive and sometimes ineffective, resulting in much larger exclusion zones being required.

HS2 continues to undertake one of the largest ecological survey programmes in the UK, with some of the country’s most experienced and leading ecological consultants working on the project. Surveys provide detailed information on the impacts of the scheme and enable the best mitigation to be adopted to reduce impacts and develop opportunities to leave a better natural environment legacy.

HS2’s Environment Director Peter Miller said:

“HS2 places a huge emphasis on ecological protection and we actively encourage our supply chain to use innovative technologies like this to refine and improve the way we collect information on species.

“As well as delivering a low carbon railway, that will help reduce transport pollution and improve air quality, HS2 is committed to creating a Green Corridor of richer, more diverse and better-connected landscapes along the railway. The Colne Valley area, where the drone surveys took place, is renowned for its rich landscape and biodiversity, so proactive environmental survey and monitoring is crucial in order to protect the local ecology.”

Vincent Ryan, Environmental Advisor at Roadbridge said:

“Skylark populations have dramatically declined since the 1970s predominately due to changes in agricultural practices and reduced areas of grassland to breed in. As ground-nesting birds, Skylarks are one of the most difficult birds to survey, and in a construction environment it is very important to be able to accurately locate their small and well camouflaged nests in order to mitigate appropriately.

“One of the contributing factors that influenced us to find innovative alternatives to ecological surveying and mitigation was the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to restrictions on site to carry out surveys. Our solution was to use the advanced technology of thermal imaging drones, and we were pleased to find they provided a highly accurate and faster survey method than traditional survey techniques, allowing us to find nests in grassland areas and monitor fledging success with minimal disturbance.”

Adam Cockayne, Environment Manager at Align JV said:

“Align JV is responsible for all ecological matters on this part of the HS2 project, and we have been working with Roadbridge to introduce this innovation to ensure that the earthworks we’re carrying out do not disturb or damage nesting birds in the area.

"Following the results that using thermal drone imaging has delivered, we will be rolling out thermal camera drones as a standard method for surveying all potential Skylark nesting areas. Working with Roadbridge we are also investigating the potential to develop and implement this methodology in other ornithological and ecological surveying.”

HS2 reveals final design for first Chiltern tunnel vent shaft headhouse

23 July 2020

• Local residents are invited to learn more about the headhouse at a month-long virtual engagement event starting today.

HS2 today (Thursday 23rd July 2020) revealed the final design for the Chalfont St Peter vent shaft headhouse – the first of four similar structures that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the high-speed rail line’s 10 mile-long Chiltern tunnel.

Set back from the road, the single-story building will be wrapped in a simple grey zinc roof with doors and vent openings picked out in a dark bronze colour to provide contrast.

Taking its inspiration from the style of local barns and other agricultural buildings, the headhouse is designed to fit into the surrounding landscape. The pre-weathered grey zinc roof will age naturally over time, without loss of robustness or quality, while the whole structure will sit on a simple dark blue brick base.

Below ground level, a 60 metre ventilation shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans and other equipment designed to regulate air quality and temperature in the tunnels, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

HS2 engaged with the Chilterns AONB Review Group during the development of the designs and held a series of public engagement events to gather views from the local community.

Mature trees along the existing boundary are being retained as far as possible and once construction is complete the whole site will be landscaped with new trees and hedgerows planted to help screen the site from neighbouring properties. The overall scale and visual impact of the building has also been significantly reduced.

To encourage wildlife to return, bird boxes, reptile basking banks, a grass snake laying heap and a hibernaculum will also be created. Material excavated from the shaft will be used to create much of the landscaping and avoid putting extra lorries onto local roads.

The plans have been drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick - working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, and the architect Grimshaw and landscape designers, LDA.

Rohan Perin, HS2 Ltd’s C1 Project Client Director said: 

“HS2 remains committed to work proactively with residents, wider community and our stakeholders to be a good neighbour during the build phase. 

“Once construction is complete, the headhouse at Chalfont St Peter will be one of very few structures of the Chiltern tunnels that will be visible to residents living nearby. That’s why it’s critical that we get the design right.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“Our Stakeholder Engagement Team have held a series of public engagement sessions for the shaft headhouse and we really appreciate the time taken and the feedback we have received from the public at these sessions, which we have reflected in the design.”

Diane Metcalfe, Associate Principal at Grimshaw, said:

“Chalfont St Peter Ventilation Shaft has been sensitively designed to complement the rural character of the Chilterns. The position and orientation of the headhouse buildings are located to conceal them within the landscape and form a courtyard similar to local farmyard arrangements.

“The pitched roof, zinc-clad buildings are a modern interpretation of the local agricultural and industrial vernacular. Design proposals are a result of close and collaborative engagement with the AONB Review Group.”

A temporary access road will soon be been completed to link the site with the A413, Amersham Road. This will allow construction traffic to avoid the centre of Chalfont St Peter and stop heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) driving past Robertswood School and the Epilepsy Society.

A new temporary marshalled lorry holding area will also be put in place on the A413 near Gerrards Cross. HGVs can be held in this newly surfaced layby until their approach to the vent shaft site is clear – helping to reduce congestion and eliminate queueing at the site entrance.

The plans for the headhouse will go on public display today, with local residents invited to attend a month-long virtual engagement event where they will be able to learn more about the design and construction of the vent shaft and headhouse.

HS2: More freight by rail

22 July 2020

• The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is almost full. HS2 will add vital capacity by placing long distance services onto their own pair of tracks, enabling more freight by rail

• Each freight train can remove up to 76 lorries from the road network

• Rail produces 76 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions than the equivalent road journey

• As we move towards a low carbon economy, HS2 will help reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and make our motorways safer

• Phase One of HS2 will require up to 15,000 rail freight journeys to haul construction materials, which will take around 1.5 million lorries off the road

West Coast Main Line 

The case for HS2 has stood the test of time. One of the original reasons for building Britain a modern, reliable, high-speed inter-city railway is that the existing West Coast Main Line (WCML) is almost full.

We urgently need more capacity on Britain’s key strategic rail corridor between London, the Midlands, the North West and Scotland so that we can run more rail services for passengers and freight.

Furthermore, the West Coast Main Line is the most important strategic route on the UK rail network for freight and 90 per cent of all intermodal trains use the West Coast Main Line for part of their journey. It provides a link between the deep-sea ports in the South and large conurbations in the West Midlands, North West and Scotland. Trains for major retailers rely on the route to move everyday goods from the Midlands to Scotland, London and into Wales. It is also an important route for transporting construction materials from quarries into the city regions, conveying finished cars to ports, and moving letters and parcels for Royal Mail. 90,000 freight trains use the West Coast Main Line each year.

In the five years to 2024, passenger demand on the WCML is forecast to rise by a further 12 per cent, and freight by 18 per cent. By the mid-2020s, it simply will not be able to accommodate any more trains. 

Under normal conditions, the WCML is the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe – accommodating fast, slow, non-stop and frequent stopping commuter trains alongside freight. This means that we can’t run services close together to get the most out of the line, which has created a route that is overcrowded, unreliable and congested in many places. 

Faster, long-distance inter-city services eat up the most capacity by forcing other rail traffic out of the way, as trains can’t overtake on the double-track railway. As these faster trains get priority on the network, slower services often have to wait for them to pass, which can cause significant delays.

Building HS2 unlocks a massive amount of space on the existing railway by placing high-speed services on their own pair of tracks. This works in a similar way to the French TGV network and Japan’s ‘bullet train’, with both countries solving their own capacity problems and futureproofing by building new fast lines. 

In its 2020 Strategic Case for HS2, the Department of Transport states that Phase One could generate up to 20 new freight paths along the West Coast Main Line. Each freight train can remove up to 76 lorries from the road network. As a result, HS2’s Phase One could take thousands of lorries off UK roads every day between London and the West Midlands, with Phase 2a (Birmingham to Crewe) extending this gain to the North West. Phase 2b will release additional capacity on the East Coast and Midland main lines.

The last upgrade of the WCML was completed in 2008. The suggestion that another upgrade is the best solution ignores the huge cost of an upgrade on the scale needed and, even more importantly, the unacceptable level of disruption that passengers and local communities would endure for longer than 10 years. The reality is that a new line must be built and the business case for a line that is high-speed is strongest.  

Low carbon economy

More freight on the rails is better for the environment too, as rail produces 76 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions than the equivalent road journey. As we move towards a low carbon economy, HS2 will help reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and make our motorways safer.

Moving goods by rail currently amounts to 1.5 billion fewer kilometres a year by heavy goods vehicles, or more than seven million lorry journeys.

Phase One of HS2 will require up to 15,000 rail freight journeys to haul materials to and from construction sites, which will take around 1.5 million lorries off the road.

Freight trains also shorten many road journeys by delivering goods to a central logistics terminal, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of goods to businesses and consumers.

Plus, more can be done in the future too. Electric trains can carry goods long distances before linking with electric vehicles for final delivery to customers in towns and cities – helping the UK supply chain to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Value of freight

From supermarket staples to the furniture in our homes, more than £30 billion worth of products are distributed by rail in Britain every year.

One freight train can carry enough supplies to build 30 houses, and in London, over 40 per cent of construction materials are delivered by rail. Trains are also removing waste from the centre of our towns and cities to be recycled elsewhere.

One in four shipping containers that enters the UK is now moved by rail and, since 2003, the amount of freight moved on each train has increased by 74 per cent, highlighting that the industry is becoming more efficient.

A survey among the rail freight industry by the Rail Freight Group and Addleshaw Goddard (June 2020) highlighted increased network capacity as the primary factor required to enable sustainable growth in the sector – which is what HS2 offers.

Polling by Campaign for Better Transport shows that almost two thirds of the public want to see more freight moved by rail, with only two per cent wanting to see more freight moved by road.

Watch the video here - HS2: Greater capacity for rail freight

WE MUST LOOK TO THE SUCCESS OF HS1 IN LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST TO UNLEASH THE FULL POTENTIAL OF HS2 NATIONALLY, SAYS NEW REPORT

25 June 2020

• Voices from worlds of politics, business and industry come together in new essay collection to speak to the benefits of high speed rail in London and the South East

• Region has unique experience as home to the UK’s original high speed rail line, HS1 – understanding of which is essential to the future success of HS2

• HS2 has key role to play in integrating the national economy more closely with London’s and enabling the global gateway the capital presents to be widened throughout the country

Voices from the worlds of politics, business and industry have come together as part of a new essay collection published today, advocating for the huge benefits high speed rail has and will bring to London and the South East, along with the UK more widely. The region is in a unique position to comment on the transformational impact of high speed rail as home to the UK’s original high speed line, HS1.

Published by High Speed Rail Group (HSRG), High Speed Rail: London and South East Voices makes clear that HS1 provides a blueprint for the successful implementation of HS2. As the southern starting point for HS2 construction, London will also play a key role in ensuring the future success of the project, setting the precedent for world-class construction, supply chain development and utilisation, and realising the wide-ranging benefits of the scheme.

As the country looks to post COVID-19 recovery, the HS2 project will form an important part of the economic programme ahead and brings into focus the essential relationship between effective major infrastructure and multiplier effects. The scheme will also build resilience within the transport system and play a key role in the green recovery and community investment.

The collection includes contributions from Jasmine Whitbread (Chief Executive, London First), Dyan Crowther (Chief Executive, HS1), Damian Green (Member of Parliament for Ashford), Deirdre Wells OBE (Chief Executive, Visit Kent), Liz Peace OBE (Chair, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation), Steve Higham (Managing Director UK & Ireland Engineering, SYSTRA UK), Cllr Heather Johnson (Chair, Camden Council Planning Committee) and Kat Hanna (Masterplan Strategist, Lendlease).

The essay collection offers analysis and ideas on high speed rail across a number of key areas:

1. Improvement in connectivity to and between regions, Europe and the global economy and the economic benefits this brings

   • Damian Green, Conservative MP for Ashford, says that “The arrival of the domestic and international high speed services has undoubtedly been the most significant factor in making the town [Ashford] attractive to inward investment for half a century”

   • Jasmine Whitbread, CEO of London First, argues that “As we are all increasingly connected and reliant upon one another, the need for long term investments in our core infrastructure to provide extra capacity and resilience is key” and “brings business confidence, national recovery and economic growth”

2. Integrating the national economy and increasing investment and trade opportunities and joining major economic centres resulting in mutual benefit

   • Jasmine Whitbread says HS2 will “fundamentally” reshape the UK’s geography, and “dispel any notion that London is an Island”

3. Immediate and longer-term job creation during and post-construction of the programme

   • Liz Peace, Chair of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, says “Old Oak offers tremendous scope to achieve a large, exciting and genuinely integrated new community in the heart of west London, which will be a leading example in how to harness connectivity and publicly owned assets to create new homes, jobs and public benefit”

   • Steve Higham, MD UK & Ireland Engineering at SYSTRA, describes how “A projected 250,000 passengers a day will use Old Oak Common station, which gives an indication of how its arrival will impact both existing and new local businesses…it has been predicted that the new HS2 station will contribute to a £15 billion economic boost over the next 30 years”

   • Dyan Crowther, CEO of HS1, highlights how HS1 has driven job growth, including supporting around “3,600 full-time tourism sector jobs”

4. Supporting cities and towns including through increased tourism

   • Deirdre Wells, CEO of Visit Kent, makes clear that since its inception, HS1 has provided invaluable connectivity for visitors by significantly reducing journey times from the capital and Europe. “It cannot be disputed…that HS1 has played a major role in our region’s growth, improving connectivity and opening up Kent more than ever before”

   • Damian Green highlights in relation to tourists that “half have indicated that the availability of high speed services was a factor in their decision to visit. One in ten say they would not have visited Kent without HS1.”

5. Supporting new homes and investment in communities, including the UK’s largest regeneration project

   • Liz Peace argues in favour of creating good places through connectivity and “a legacy location for London and the rest of the UK that provides significant employment, enhances quality of life and creates opportunity through a holistic placemaking approach”

   • Heather Johnson, Chair of Camden Council’s Planning Committee, emphasises “Railways don’t operate in isolation, they connect places, and as such places create communities. It is my belief that high speed rail is at its most successful when the community is viewed as an essential part of its development”

   • Kat Hanna, Masterplan Strategist for the Euston Project at Lendlease, says the redevelopment offers the opportunity to integrate rail infrastructure with urban fabric “this is about more than a satisfying feat of engineering – it is about harnessing the impact of transport investment to improve the lives and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and through leading by example, the whole of the UK”

6. Gains from the operational reliability and efficiency of high speed rail

   • Dyan Crowther sets out how high speed rail delivers long term value and performance in a way that traditional railways cannot, with an average delay of below five seconds, and a “93% increase of passengers to 15 million since 2011”

7. Development of cutting edge project management in major infrastructure delivery

   • Steve Higham, says “the size and complexity of the station is eye-watering. The Old Oak Common station will stretch across a length of 1km and extend 20m below ground level. The end result will be iconic and one of which Londoners will be proud. It’s a complex job. This major hub station will be the biggest project in the UK for over 100 years”

8. Environmental benefits accrued by switching from road and air to rail

   • Damian Green evidences the environmental impact of HS1, with “£66 million” of environmental benefits generated by those choosing not to fly

   • Dyan Crowther writes that high speed rail provides benefits and improves connectivity for longer journeys in an environmentally friendly way, with journeys made by train to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam producing “80% less CO2 emissions than if they fly,” for the predicted 4.9m extra passengers a year, “this would be the equivalent of 26,000 short-haul flights”

HS2 reveals striking new images of first tunnel launch site

11 June 2020

HS2 revealed a series of striking new images showing preparation for the arrival of the project’s first giant tunnelling machines, which will be launched from a site next to the M25 early next year.

The two 2,000 tonne machines – currently being manufactured in Germany – will dig the 10-mile-long Chiltern tunnels from the site next to the M25, to near South Heath in Buckinghamshire. The new images show the excavation of the launch site and the start of work to build the concrete precast plant where more than 118,000 tunnel segments will be made.

At 136 acres - the size of 80 football pitches – the South Portal Chalfont Lane site will be the biggest construction site on the project. From here, specialist teams will deliver the tunnelling and the construction of the adjacent Colne Valley Viaduct.

Dedicated motorway slip-roads have been built to link the new site with the M25 and take construction traffic off local roads, while material excavated from the tunnels will be reused as landscaping on site.

Around 350 staff from HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, and its subcontractors – are now permanently based on site.

At peak, around 1200 people are expected to be employed in the design and construction of the Chiltern tunnels and the viaduct, with 50 opportunities for apprentices.

The ‘twin bore’ Chiltern tunnels will be the longest and deepest tunnel bores on route, with separate northbound and southbound tunnels and five ventilation shafts. The tunnels will carry the state-of-the-art HS2 trains under the Chiltern hills on their way to Birmingham, Scotland and the north of England.

Just south of the tunnel portal, the Colne Valley Viaduct – designed by Align, working with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop-Rendel, and the architect Grimshaw – will be the longest railway viaduct in the UK. At 3.4km long, it will carry HS2 across the Grand Union Canal and surrounding lakes. Further south, the line will go into tunnel again before arriving at Old Oak Common and London Euston.

This new route will free up more space for local and freight services on the current mainline out of Euston and offer an environmentally friendly form of transport for long distance passengers.

Welcoming the progress on site, HS2 Delivery Director, David Bennett said:

“The south portal site will have one of the most important parts to play in the story of HS2. From here we’ll manage the construction of the Chilterns tunnel and the iconic Colne Valley viaduct.

“It’s great to see how much progress has been made on site – and I look forward to working with the team to deliver what will be two of the most exciting and ambitious engineering challenges on the project.”

Daniel Altier Align JV Project Director said:

“Significant planning and preparation has been completed by the Align team, working in close cooperation with HS2 and it’s great to see developments at the south portal. We now have a significant presence on-site and this is set to increase over the weeks and months ahead.

"This is a complex project and it’s both rewarding and exciting for the team to see the component parts coming together after all their detailed planning. Align is now actively recruiting to build our team to address the complex engineering challenges associated with the delivery of this iconic project.”

HS2 asks UK public to choose the names for their first two giant tunnelling machines

15 May 2020

HS2 asks UK public to choose the names for their first two giant tunnelling machines.

• British public invited to choose between the final three names suggested by local school children – Cecilia, Florence and Marie

• Name with the most votes will be given to the first of two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) set to launch early next year

• The TBMs will be operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV – a joint venture formed of three companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

• The two TBMs will spend around three years digging the longest and deepest HS2 tunnels south of the M25, to South Heath in Buckinghamshire

HS2 has today launched a national vote to pick the names of the first of 10 giant tunnel boring machines that will excavate more than 35 miles of tunnel on the first phase of the UK’s new high speed railway between London and the West Midlands.

The public is being invited to go to https://www.hs2.org.uk/tbmvoting/ and vote for their favourite name, from a shortlist of three chosen by local school children and inspired by female scientific and medical pioneers.

The names are:

• Cecilia – named after Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, the Astronomer and Astrophysicist born in Buckinghamshire who became Chair of Astronomy at Harvard University in the United States. Suggested by students at Chalfont Community College in Buckinghamshire.

• Florence – named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Buckinghamshire where she wrote numerous books on nursing. Suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon.

• Marie – named after Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person and the only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice. Suggested by students at Maple Cross JMI and Nursery in Hertfordshire.

The name with the most votes will be given to the first TBM, due to be launched from a site close to the M25 early next year. The enormous, 2,000 tonne, 170m long machine will be one of two that will dig the 10 mile long Chiltern tunnels.

The second machine, due to be launched a month later, will be given the second most popular name in the public vote.

The TBMs will be operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align JV – a joint venture formed of three companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

The machines are being built by Herrenknecht in Germany. Their names are being chosen now so they can be fixed to machines during their manufacture, ready for when they emerge out of the factory.

After completion the first two machines will be disassembled before beginning their long journey to England. Once they have arrived on site, each TBM will be reassembled, ready to begin their life underground.

Together, the TBMs will spend around three years digging what will be the longest and deepest tunnels on the project, stretching from just inside the M25, to South Heath in Buckinghamshire.

Launching the competition, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston said:

“The launch of our first TBM will be a defining moment in the history of HS2 – and our work to deliver high capacity, low carbon high speed rail travel for millions of people across the UK.

“I’d like to thank all the schools that took part in the first stage of the competition and the pupils who suggested the three shortlisted names - Cecilia, Florence and Marie. Now it’s over to the British public to decide which will grace the side of our first TBMs.”

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said:

“I would like to thank the pupils and teachers at the three local schools who suggested these three pioneering and inspirational women. Align would be very proud for our TBMs, that will incorporate the very latest technology and innovation, to bear their names.”

Align is responsible for the C1 section of the route, including the Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct.

People can vote for their favourite name at https://www.hs2.org.uk/tbmvoting/. Voting closes on 5th June 2020.

The HS2 Ltd issues the Align JV with a Notice to Proceed

15 April 2020

The HS2 Ltd has today issued the Align JV with a Notice to Proceed to deliver the C1 package of HS2.

The package was originally awarded to Align, a joint venture of three international and privately-owned infrastructure companies, Bouygues Travaux Publics SAS, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, a subsidiary of VolkerWessels UK, and its design partners Jacobs Engineering and Ingérop-Rendel, in July 2017. Since then Align has been progressing the design and starting critical pre-construction activities, working in collaboration with HS2, culminating today with the issuing of a Notice to Proceed.

The C1 package worth £1.6bn sits within HS2 phase 1. The C1 route starts approximately 20km to the west of central London and runs across the the Colne Valley and then through the Chiltern Hills to the north west. It consists of 21.6km of high speed rail infrastructure that includes what will become a landmark  3.37km viaduct across the Colne Valley and a 16.04km twin-bored tunnel with five ventilation shafts.

The Align partners have an impressive and successful track record of major project innovation, design and construction, and this is reflected in what is planned to deliver the C1 package. A complete scheme design, production of the construction programme and key procurement activities have already been delivered by Align. The decision by HS2 to issue their Notice to Proceed today, signifies the second stage of the project which includes implementation of detailed design and the construction works.

Jean-Pierre Margolin, Executive Director at Bouygues Travaux Publics and an Align Board Director commented; “I am delighted with how the Align team has come together to develop the design and planning in close coordination with all stakeholders involved for what will be an iconic element of HS2. Each company involved in the Align JV is proud to be playing its part in delivering Europe’s largest infrastructure project.“

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director, added; “This is a complex project however we have delivered some unique innovations to address the engineering challenges relating to both design and planned construction of the tunnel, the tunnel shafts and the viaduct. It’s both rewarding and exciting to get the construction element of the project underway.”

Align welcomes the UK Government’s decision to give the green light to HS2

13 February 2020

Align, a joint venture of three international and privately-owned infrastructure companies that has been contracted to deliver the C1 package of HS2, welcomes the decision by the UK Government to give the go-ahead to the project earlier this week.

The C1 package that sits within HS2 phase 1, consists of 21.6km of high speed rail infrastructure that includes a 3.37km viaduct across the Colne Valley and a 16.04km twin-bored tunnel with five ventilation shafts.  

Daniel Altier, Align Project Director commented, “We are very pleased that the project has now been given the go ahead and we are continuing with our preparation work to deliver what will be key technically challenging elements of HS2 phase 1.”

High Speed Rail Apprentice Network launched to power infrastructure revolution

3 February 2020

Align was delighted to support the launch of the High Speed Rail Group (HSRG) Apprentice Network in Birmingham today.

Launched as part of National Apprenticeship Week, Align apprentices joined others from across the project and heard from HS2 CEO, and former apprentice, Mark Thurston and HSRG Director Isabel Coman, before breaking out into a workshop session.

Established by HSRG with the aim of connecting apprentices from across HS2 and its contractors, along with the wider high speed rail industry, the network will look to demonstrate that the rail and infrastructure sector is a high quality place to work. Apprentices have a unique experience at work and network members will use their own first-hand experiences to communicate best practice on employment, diversity, sustainability and wellbeing in the sector.

With almost 2,000 apprentices currently working on the scheme, HS2 will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to train and upskill the next generation of young people, who will deliver future infrastructure and rolling stock projects. HS2 is already supporting 11,000 jobs, is set to support 15,000 jobs by year end and 30,000 jobs at peak construction and train building activity.

Mark Thurston, CEO at HS2 said:

“HS2 will develop the next generation of technical skills to not only design and build HS2, but to deliver Britain’s future infrastructure ambitions, and leave a lasting skills legacy for the country.

“I started my own career as a technical apprentice working on the London Underground. It framed my outlook and I learned a huge amount from the people around me. I’m a great believer in networking, mentors and mentoring – which is why I fully support the High Speed Rail Group’s Apprentice Network and look forward to seeing how it will prosper in the years to come.”

Isabel Coman, Director at High Speed Rail Group, said:

“HSRG are delighted to have launched this new Apprentice Network, which will provide apprentices working on the HS2 project with support and guidance around their learning and working practices.

“We hope that by providing apprentices with a space in which they can liaise with peers, as well as getting advice from more senior industry colleagues, HSRG are contributing to the delivery not only of HS2, but future major infrastructure projects that the Government is ambitious to complete.”

Align accredited as a Disability Confident Employer

1st February 2020

Align is committed to make the most of the talents which disabled people can bring to its business and therefore it was delighted to receive accreditation from the government as a Disability Confident Employer.

Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. This supports Align’s strategy to be an inclusive place to work and it will continue to move forward in this area by looking at how it can support disabled people into work.

Align will hold this accreditation for three years in which time it will look to achieve level 3, which would mean it would be acknowledged as a Disability Confident Leader.

HS2 - TOWARDS A ZERO CARBON FUTURE

November 2019

Align was pleased to have contributed to this report that sets out the crucial role HS2 will play in achieving net zero.

• New report released today by HSRIL (High Speed Rail Industry Leaders) shows that HS2 is “crucial” to UK reaching net zero

• Only HS2 can deliver the capacity and journey time savings to shift many more people out of cars and planes

• HS2 contractors expected to outperform carbon targets by 20-30%

A timely and independent report has today been published which sets out the crucial role that HS2 will play in the UK achieving its net zero targets by 2050. The report concludes that only HS2 can provide the rail capacity needed to significantly shift travel away from polluting road and air alternatives. Notably the report also finds that HS2 contractors are already outperforming carbon forecasts, with the HS2 project acting as a catalyst to reduce emissions, and that any moves to curtail the scheme could weaken the project’s substantial carbon case.  

“HS2 - towards a zero carbon future” examines the carbon case for HS2, considering its impacts from construction, operation and modal shift. The independent review commissioned by High Speed Rail Industry Leaders was produced by Ralph Smyth, who formerly led the Campaign to Protect Rural England's (CPRE) engagement on HS2 and was the only person permitted to petition against HS2 legislation regarding its climate change impacts.

Smyth recommends using the net zero obligation to reboot HS2’s environmental narrative and relaunch it to coincide with the project’s tenth anniversary. He argues that the Government’s forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Strategy should be used as an opportunity to commit to making rail the longer distance travel mode of choice through HS2. Full integration with Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Engine Rail is essential, whilst the ongoing Oakervee Review must also be aligned with Government decisions to implement transport policies that will ensure complying with the fifth carbon budget (2028-2033).

Reviewing the report, HSRIL draw the following conclusions:

• HS2 will form a crucial part of the transition to net zero. As the transport sector undertakes an irreversible shift towards net zero emission mobility, a high capacity fully electrified railway such as HS2 is essential to making this happen.

• HS2 is already outperforming carbon targets. Initial estimates of the carbon impact during HS2’s construction phase may have been vastly overestimated. For example, one of the main contractors, a HSRIL member, is delivering early works already 13% under target for carbon emissions. Outperformance of initial forecasts during the construction phase of the scheme are likely to be 20-30%.

• HS2 is a vital investment to the decarbonisation of the UK’s transport sector. HS2 should be viewed as intrinsic to the forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Strategy, catalysing modal shift from road to rail. HS2 will release capacity for commuter services and rail freight.

• HS2 can play a key strategic role in climate change adaptation. HS2 will be the most reliable and resilient transport infrastructure available during increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

• Any moves to curtail HS2 will weaken its carbon case. Curbing HS2 will weaken, not improve, its carbon case by reducing the wider benefits the project unlocks from released capacity and sustainable housing development.

Ralph Smyth, author of “HS2 - towards a zero carbon future” said: HS2 was proposed on the back of the momentous Climate Change Act 2008. Following the Government making a historic commitment to deliver net zero emissions, it’s time to reboot HS2’s carbon case in time for the scheme’s tenth anniversary.

“Achieving net zero will require big changes to the way we travel. Longer journeys are the hardest to decarbonise, which is why we need to make rail the longer distance travel mode of choice. Only HS2 can deliver the capacity and journey time savings to shift many more people out of cars and planes by the 2030s, without causing a decade of disruption to our existing train services.

“The challenges of achieving net zero in the transport sector, now the biggest single source of carbon emissions, needs to be at the top of the next Government’s in-tray. Failing to join up difficult - and long delayed - decisions to tackle air and road emissions with its response to the Oakervee Review would be a huge own goal. Failing to deliver HS2 and maximise its carbon benefits could jeopardise achieving climate-friendly transport for another generation.”

Jim Steer, Director, High Speed Rail Industry Leaders, said:

“The report makes clear the fundamental role that HS2 has to play in the UK reaching net zero. The fact that HS2 is already out performing its carbon targets is demonstrative of the industry’s commitment to making HS2 the greenest major infrastructure project the country has ever seen.”

www.rail-leaders.com/publications/hs2-towards-a-zero-carbon-future/

Align supports the call by young apprentices on the Government to deliver “transformational” HS2 and to protect 30,000 jobs nationwide

London, Oct 2019

A group of young apprentices today delivered a letter to Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, urging him not to scrap the "transformational" HS2 project that is "part of all our futures".

Arguing that their "voices should be heard" in the ongoing debate around HS2's future, the group say that they are "immensely proud that we are helping deliver one of the most important programmes for our country - the first north-south railway in 100 years" and that the project will be "globally admired" if it is completed.

The 18 HS2 apprentices drew attention to the 30,000 HS2 jobs that would be put at risk if the project was scrapped: "Decisions taken today will affect us the most. Much is at stake: our future, the future of high-speed rail and rail investment, the 9,000 jobs working on the HS2 programme today, the 30,000 set to work ahead as well as many more hundreds of thousands in related programmes resting on HS2." HS2's apprenticeship programme will create 2,000 apprenticeship opportunities over the project’s lifetime. 

And they highlight the opportunities "not just [for] a wide range of young people from different backgrounds like us but also other opportunities too, for example helping the long-term unemployed into apprenticeships providing life chances that people have not had before".

The apprentices say that their roles at HS2 show that the project represents a "significant boost to enhancing skill levels and creating pathways for high-skilled jobs across the UK" and that scrapping the project would put at risk the "skilled jobs the country needs". 

Their intervention comes as Douglas Oakervee finalises his Independent Review of HS2, which is assessing the project's future. It also comes ahead of Monday's Queen's Speech. The apprentices are seeking assurances of "the Government’s continued commitment to the legislation needed to deliver HS2." 

High Speed Rail Industry Leaders Director Isabel Coman commented:

"HS2 has played a huge role in creating opportunities for young people from all sorts of backgrounds, getting them into apprenticeships and providing life chances that they could never have dreamed of before.  It would be such a loss for them and the skills agenda if this scheme doesn’t go ahead.

"HS2 has given these apprentices such an important start in life, just as this transformational project will give all parts of the country a new lease of life, as well as breaking the North-South divide and supporting a zero carbon future.”

ENDS

Full text of the letter.

As apprentices for HS2 suppliers we are writing to you in an open letter to register our strong support for this vital scheme, in advance of the Oakervee review reporting its findings, and ahead of next week’s Queen’s Speech as we want to see within it the Government’s continued commitment to the legislation needed to deliver HS2.

As apprentices we feel that our voices should be heard in the discussions on the future of HS2. We are not only helping deliver the programme, but we will be users of this transformational railway for years to come. In addition, as we know, HS2 is a significant boost to enhancing skill levels and creating pathways for high-skilled jobs across the UK - we are a testament to this. Many more apprentices can join us working on the scheme, but we need HS2 to continue.

The Prime Minister and Government Ministers repeatedly say that they want to invest in Britain and that the younger generation needs a positive future. HS2 represents this. Decisions taken today will affect us the most. Much is at stake: our future, the future of high-speed rail and rail investment, the 9,000 jobs working on the HS2 programme today, the 30,000 set to work ahead as well as many more hundreds of thousands in related programmes resting on HS2. We are part of the future success of our transport system, a successful rail sector and the skilled jobs the country needs.

We are immensely proud that we are helping deliver one of the most important programmes for our country - the first north-south railway in 100 years. But, we know too it is not just a transport programme but an economic one that helps connect the country. Developing a British high speed rail network – using UK talent, engineering and manufacturing – will allow us to develop even further the national capability in high speed rail. Around the world, multiple countries from India to Australia to the USA are planning high speed rail lines; HS2 and the skills and capability it will create will allow our companies – and us - to take advantage of these new opportunities. Working together we can successfully deliver a truly globally admired project and as a result create multiple future prospects.

We are also proud of the opportunities that HS2 offers, not just to a wide range of young people from different backgrounds like us but also other opportunities too, for example helping the long-term unemployed into apprenticeships providing life chances that people have not had before. We are collectively part of the HS2 success story and HS2 is part of all our futures. We hope that this is recognised and considered as the programme is being assessed ahead.

About High Speed Rail Industry Leaders (HSRIL)

Representing companies with relevant experience and an interest in high speed rail, High Speed Rail Industry Leaders is committed to supporting the successful delivery of a world-class high speed rail network in Britain. Our members have helped deliver major infrastructure projects in the UK and around the world, ranging from creating entirely new high speed networks through to maintaining and improving the UK’s existing rail network. This gives us a unique insight into both the shortcomings in the current network, and the transformative capacity and connectivity benefits that high speed rail can bring. Our unique set of expertise in engineering, operations, funding and regulation gives us the experience to ensure the extension of the high speed rail network leaves a lasting legacy for the UK. The company’s principal objective is: “to support, promote and champion the development of high-speed rail in Great Britain”.

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Align JV announces new HS2 Project Director, Daniel Altier

London, May 2018

Align JV has appointed Daniel Altier as its new Project Director to lead the delivery of the C1 work package on behalf of HS2.

Daniel takes over from Jérôme Furgé at the joint venture made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick.  Jérôme has returned to one of the parent companies, Bouygues Travaux Publics, to run their UK Business Development division. 

A senior Bouygues Civil Engineer, Daniel has recently completed the prestigious LianTang tunnel mega-project in Hong Kong, and brings with him over 30 years of experience in major infrastructure project delivery.

Daniel has several recent world-class international projects under his belt. These include the Lok Ma Chau, Ocean's Park, West Drainage and Liantang projects in Hong Kong, as well as the FerJijel high speed line in Algeria, and the Dublin Port Tunnel in Ireland.

These projects have given Daniel significant tunnelling expertise, and he has industry-leading credentials in delivering for large construction organisations; specifically as part of works preparation, project implementation, and multinational team management.

About his appointment, Daniel says, “HS2 is one of the most important high-speed rail projects in the world, and I am proud to be entrusted with such a challenging and inspiring enterprise.”

“I’ve inherited a team of closely collaborative and expert individuals at Align, all of whom share boundless enthusiasm for the communities we serve, and the innovative thinking that goes behind the design and delivery of this momentous legacy for Britain’s future.” 

About Align
Align is a joint venture of three international and privately-owned infrastructure companies; Bouygues Travaux Publics, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick, a subsidiary of VolkerWessels. Their combined experience; both in the UK and worldwide, in delivering high-profile infrastructure projects safely, on time and on budget, has long established their reputation.

HS2 C1 package
In July 2017, the ALIGN joint venture, was awarded the C1 package of the UK High Speed 2 line (HS2). Lot C1 consists of 21.6km of high speed rail infrastructure in a rural environment. This will include a 3.37km viaduct, 16.04km twin-bored tunnel and five vent shafts handling both intervention and tunnel ventilation facilities.

Working with design partners Jacobs and Ingerop, the Align-D team are now in the process of developing the Stage one scheme design.

Key figures
The three Align parent companies collectively employ over 20,000 people and have a combined parent-group turnover of over £12.5bn. As experienced contractors in the delivery of transport infrastructure, including current high-speed rail projects in the UK, France and Hong Kong, they are able to manage complex projects from inception to completion. Between them, the Align companies have completed 178km of high-speed rail and 343km of rail tunnels.

ALIGN’s partners:

Align Design 
Align adds additional expertise in transport infrastructure delivery through its prestigious Align-D partners:

Jacobs
Jacobs leads the global professional services sector, with $15 billion in combined revenue and a talent-force more than 74,000 strong. Visit www.jacobs.com

Ingérop-Rendel
Ingérop, a multinational company active in more than 70 countries (includes UK-based Rendel) is one of France’s leading independent consultancies with extensive high-speed rail experience, amongst which, the recent Brittany-to-Loire high-speed line.  Visit www.rendel-ltd.com

For all media and communications enquiries please contact:
Rob Hutchison
r.hutchison@alignjv.com
Mobile: +44(0)7901 110811