Historic breakthrough for HS2’s longest tunnel drive

After almost three years of around-the-clock grind, tunnellers celebrated yesterday as HS2’s longest tunnel drive came to an end.
The 17-strong crew working the enormous Florence TBM achieved an average speed of 16m a day on the 10-mile journey under the Chilterns.
The 2,000-tonne TBM is one of 10 machines excavating the 32 miles of tunnel on the HS2 project from London Euston to Birmingham.Main works contractor Align’s other sister TBM, Cecilia is driving the second of the bores on