GRALISTAIR
Established Member
I agree. Quietly get on with it and very little PR is the ticket.
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HS2 TBM Progress
- Thread starter LNW-GW Joint
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LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Finishing a TBM drive means that a major cost element is done, and the surface disruption (around portals and vent shafts) can be reduced.
The supply sites can also be dismantled to the benefit of locals, with final landscaping begun.
I think much of the spoil conveyor system around OOC can also be dismantled, leaving just that needed for the Euston tunnels (through the logistics tunnel).
So it's not just the tick in the engineering box.
There's every chance the early finish at Northolt will have a positive impact on overall costs.
That level of efficiency needs carrying forward to the Euston tunnel drives soon to start.
By any measure, the completion of 30km of dual tunnels (13.5 km at Northolt and 16km under the Chilterns) is a major milestone for the project.
The supply sites can also be dismantled to the benefit of locals, with final landscaping begun.
I think much of the spoil conveyor system around OOC can also be dismantled, leaving just that needed for the Euston tunnels (through the logistics tunnel).
So it's not just the tick in the engineering box.
There's every chance the early finish at Northolt will have a positive impact on overall costs.
That level of efficiency needs carrying forward to the Euston tunnel drives soon to start.
By any measure, the completion of 30km of dual tunnels (13.5 km at Northolt and 16km under the Chilterns) is a major milestone for the project.
TBMEngineer
Member
Agreed. Spot on regarding the conveyors, OOC are now dismantled since last year as they finished their excavation, NTE tunnels will dismantle in the summer, leaving just Euston through the atlas rd tunnel and over into WET.
Expected launch is February next year, due to some constraints with BBVS and OOC pouring their roof on the top of the station box, so we have to hand back PC to them for a while.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
In the first update at Northolt East for a while (for May 2, 14 days since April 18, which includes the Easter holiday period):
Emily is at 5220m (+228m), Anne at 4853m (+10m).
So Emily is moving well and has just 329m to go to completion.
Anne has hardly moved, so some maintenance if likely - 647m to go.
Emily is at 5220m (+228m), Anne at 4853m (+10m).
So Emily is moving well and has just 329m to go to completion.
Anne has hardly moved, so some maintenance if likely - 647m to go.
absolutelymilk
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 Jul 2015
- Messages
- 1,420
Still no word from Mary Anne at Bromford - supposedly only 40m to go two weeks ago...
TBMEngineer
Member
Emily is due to park up at GPW a few rings away whilst they prepare for the arrival, they aren’t quite ready.
We expect to park the machine on Monday and ‘breakthrough’ a few weeks later
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Good to know. Thanks for your inside accurate knowledge.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Mary Ann at Bromford is now showing zero distance to completion for May 7 (was 40m on April 21).
Elizabeth is at 3630m, +190m since April 21, with 1970m to go.
There's no wider announcement yet about completion of the southern bore of Bromford Tunnel to Washwood Heath.
www.hs2.org.uk
Elizabeth is at 3630m, +190m since April 21, with 1970m to go.
There's no wider announcement yet about completion of the southern bore of Bromford Tunnel to Washwood Heath.
In your area map
Search our interactive In Your Area Map to find information about current or planned HS2 construction works taking place across the route.
www.hs2.org.uk
Mary Ann break through today
mediacentre.hs2.org.uk
HS2 celebrates first Birmingham tunnel breakthrough
Major construction milestone as HS2 completes the first section of the 3.5-mile Bromford Tunnel linking Warwickshire and Birmingham Tunnel boring machine, Mary Ann, travelled under the region’s motorway network, watercourses and key National Grid infrastructure without disruption Specialist...
Reporting on BBC o’clock news, about 13:28.Mary Ann break through today
HS2 celebrates first Birmingham tunnel breakthrough
Major construction milestone as HS2 completes the first section of the 3.5-mile Bromford Tunnel linking Warwickshire and Birmingham Tunnel boring machine, Mary Ann, travelled under the region’s motorway network, watercourses and key National Grid infrastructure without disruption Specialist...
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
I am glad it is making the national news. Good news is always welcome these days.
Snow1964
Established Member
HS2 TBM update from In your area map
Anne 5019m with 481m to go, updated 10 May
Emily 5423m with 126m to go, updated 10 May
Anne 5019m with 481m to go, updated 10 May
Emily 5423m with 126m to go, updated 10 May
TBMEngineer
Member
Some issues with our muck bins, and other miscellaneous TBM issues, progress not as rapid as planned
Estimate is Emily to park up on Thursday night
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16/05 - Emily is now parked for 3 weeks
Anne is plucking away at 26m a day
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Snow1964
Established Member
If Anne only had 481m to go, 6 days ago and is doing about 26m per day, then looking like it will finish around end of May too.
That would only leave Elizabeth (at Bromford) as a moving TBM until the Euston TBMs start, so do the crews transfer to Euston TBMs or disperse and move to different job.
TBMEngineer
Member
This will depend which sub contractor gets the labour award, West Ruislip was JGL and all the other drives were tunnel craft, considering NTE and atlas road were tunnel craft, I would put a bet they win it.
It will be the preference of whoever is the tunnel superintendent basically, he will know which supervisors he likes and are good, and they will bring their best guys too. Gangs tend to try to stay together
Snow1964
Established Member
HS2 has given update on the Northolt tunnels, now the TBMs are finished on northern half, going to construct the concrete walkways, through until February 2026.
Sounds like continuous concrete pour pumped along pipes for 8 months on 24/7 basis, so possibly they will be constructed by slip paving (they previously said had used that method for walkways in Long Itchington tunnels).
Sounds like continuous concrete pour pumped along pipes for 8 months on 24/7 basis, so possibly they will be constructed by slip paving (they previously said had used that method for walkways in Long Itchington tunnels).
TBMEngineer
Member
Those will be NTE segments, i believe Euston production starts later this year.
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Rapid walkway construction for a few months
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Yep, MPD Construction walkways bridge I believe, same system for NTE.
Rapid walkway construction for a few months
absolutelymilk
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 Jul 2015
- Messages
- 1,420
Thanks for sharing - have they finished the concrete pour for the Chiltern tunnels?
Snow1964
Established Member
From HS2 In your area map
Elizabeth, Bromford tunnel, 3744m, 1856m to go, updated 20 May
No updates on Northolt TBMs
Elizabeth, Bromford tunnel, 3744m, 1856m to go, updated 20 May
No updates on Northolt TBMs
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TBMEngineer
Member
NTE Emily is parked until green park way are ready
NTE Anne is going to be carrying on up to the shaft and then also parking up until green park are ready.
Snow1964
Established Member
HS2 has issued pictures of lifting out of cutterhead of Caroline at Green Park Way shaft on Sunday. It is the second TBM to be removed.
mediacentre.hs2.org.uk
IN PICTURES: HS2 lifts second giant tunnelling machine after successful 5-mile journey under London
HS2 lifts Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) ‘Caroline’ from below ground at the Green Park Way site in Greenford, West London
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
So hopefully Emily will be on the move again in the eastern bore, with just 125m to go to the removal shaft.
Snow1964
Established Member
I think it worked for about 6 more days after previous update, so is probably just few meters from finish point, waiting for shaft area to be clear.
TBMEngineer
Member
ETA is early next week to restart - perhaps 2/3 days mining depending on ground conditions and torque.
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It is 16 Rings away from the shaft
A quick question:
As I understand it the so far the arrival areas had to be partly filled with foam concrete for the first two arrivals from the north west to attempt to keep as much water out as possible, will this also be the case for the TBMs arriving from the south east?
TBMEngineer
Member
It is the exact same process yes
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
An update from the remaining Bromford TBM was issued today, for June 2 (13 days from May 20):
Elizabeth is at 3932m (+188m, or 14.4m/day).
This is better progress than of late, and there is 1668m to go, ie the northern (Up) tunnel bore is 70% complete.
Elizabeth is at 3932m (+188m, or 14.4m/day).
This is better progress than of late, and there is 1668m to go, ie the northern (Up) tunnel bore is 70% complete.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
So about 16 weeks at current rate of progress.