HS2 Completes First 3.5-Mile Tunnel Bore Linking Warwickshire, Birmingham

HS2 has celebrated a major milestone with the breakthrough of Mary Ann, a 125-meter-long, 1,600-tonne tunnel boring machine, which completed the first bore of the 3.5-mile Bromford Tunnel connecting Water Orton in Warwickshire to Washwood Heath in Birmingham. This tunnel will become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands and is a key part of HS2's plan to nearly halve journey times between Birmingham and London while freeing up track space on the West Coast Main Line for local, regional, and freight services. Over 31,000 people are employed across the HS2 route, with the second bore expected to be completed later this year by another machine named Elizabeth. The breakthrough site at Washwood Heath is set to become HS2's operational nerve centre, featuring a depot and control centre for train maintenance and operation. Excavated earth from the tunneling is being reused in nearby construction projects, reflecting HS2's sustainability policies. HS2's chief executive, Mark Wild, praised the workforce for their dedication and highlighted the significance of this achievement in delivering economic growth and improved transport connectivity in the West Midlands.