"HS2 says that construction of its longest tunnel, running from the edge of London under the Chilterns, has been completed, nearly 5 years after work began. Digging the two tunnels was completed in March 2024, but work was also underway above the tunnels, digging down from the surface to create two large ventilation shafts. HS2 says it has completed work at two of the line's Chiltern tunnel vent shafts, located at Chesham Road and Little Missenden, bringing to an end a project that began almost five years ago."
"Although structural work is complete, they still need to turn the concrete tunnel into a working railway. Main construction of the twin-bore tunnel began in May 2021 with the staggered launch of two 2,000-tonne tunnel boring machines (TBMs) from a site next to the M25, not far from Rickmansworth. The machines progressed north at an average speed of 16 metres per day before breaking through near Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, in early 2024."
The twin-bore Chiltern tunnel, nearly 10 miles long, reached structural completion after almost five years of work, with digging finished in March 2024. Surface work created large ventilation shafts at Chesham Road and Little Missenden that have now been completed. Two 2,000-tonne tunnel boring machines launched in May 2021 progressed north at about 16 metres per day, breaking through near Great Missenden in early 2024. Internal walkways, 40 cross passages and porous portal extensions have been installed, and spoil is being used to create a public chalk grassland wildlife reserve. Final fit-out is still required to turn the concrete tunnel into an operational railway.
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