NEWS STORY : HS2 Achieves Major Milestone with First Tunnel Breakthrough in Birmingham
STORY
The High Speed 2 (HS2) project has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the first bore of the Bromford Tunnel in Birmingham. This 3.5-mile tunnel, stretching from Water Orton in Warwickshire to Washwood Heath in Birmingham, is set to become the longest railway tunnel ever constructed in the West Midlands. The breakthrough was achieved by the tunnel boring machine (TBM) named “Mary Ann” in honour of the Warwickshire-born author George Eliot. Over a period of 652 days, Mary Ann excavated approximately one million tonnes of material, marking a major engineering accomplishment for the HS2 project.
Rail Minister Lord Hendy attended the event and highlighted the project’s impact on the region’s economy and infrastructure. He stated:
“Today marks a major milestone for the country’s biggest infrastructure project, opening up the HS2 gateway to Birmingham. This is the longest railway tunnel ever built in the West Midlands. It’s truly a monumental feat of engineering and represents huge progress.”
The completion of the Bromford Tunnel is expected to bring substantial economic benefits to the West Midlands, with projections of £10 billion in economic growth over the next decade. The project has already supported over 30,000 jobs along the 140-mile route, providing highly skilled opportunities and contributing to the Government’s Plan for Change. Additionally, the Washwood Heath site, located at the tunnel’s western end, is undergoing development to transform a 24-hectare brownfield area into commercial and logistics space. This initiative is anticipated to create over 1,000 new jobs for local residents, further stimulating the region’s economy. The Bromford Tunnel’s completion is a pivotal step in the HS2 project, which aims to connect the UK’s major cities with faster and more reliable train services, alleviate congestion on existing lines, and enhance connectivity across the country.
