HS2 has removed a huge tunnel boring machine (TBM) after completing an 8km drive from West Ruislip to Green Park Way, West London.
The TBM, named Sushila, weighs 850 tonnes and was lifted in one piece using a 750-tonne gantry crane. Its cuttterhead spans 9.48m in diameter.
During its journey from October 2022 until December 2024, Sushila excavated more than 1.2 million tonnes of earth and installed 4,217 tunnel rings.
The TBM was used to construct part of the 13.5km Northolt Tunnel, which is being built by HS2’s London tunnels contractor Skanska Costain Strabag JV. The tunnel will take HS2 trains from Old Oak Common Station to West Ruislip.
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