Construction of the Euston Tunnel has started with the launch of the first of two tunnel boring machines from Old Oak Common in west London. The 4.5-mile twin-bore tunnel will connect HS2 directly to a new station in central London and completes the last major underground section of the 140-mile high-speed line between London and Birmingham.
The tunnelling operation will remove more than 1.5 million tonnes of excavated material, which will be transported by rail from a logistics hub in London for reuse on other projects. The machines will install over 8,000 concrete tunnel rings while advancing at an average speed of around 16 metres per day, operating continuously.
The tunnel is seen as a prerequisite for extending HS2 services from Old Oak Common into central London. Initial HS2 operations are planned between Old Oak Common and Birmingham, with the Euston section to follow at a later stage. The project is currently undergoing a wider programme reset aimed at sequencing construction and confirming final costs and opening dates.
The Euston Tunnel is also linked to long-term regeneration plans for the Euston area, where a new integrated transport hub combining high-speed rail, classic rail and metro services is planned alongside commercial and residential development. Independent studies estimate the regeneration could deliver significant economic benefits over the coming decades.
