NEAR BIRMINGHAM In July 2023, JV contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV) launched the 8.62m-diameter TBM ‘Mary Ann’ to bore of one of the twin tubes of the 5.6km-long Bromford Tunnel, which is a vital section of the project to take the HS2 line in and out of Birmingham. ‘Mary Ann’ completed her drive in May this year,
reaching the Washwood Heath site which is to be the operational heart of HS2 in future. The site will host HS2’s Depot, for serving and storing
rolling stock, and the Network Integrated Control Centre to operate the high-speed railway in real-time. The second, parallel tunnel is being bored by TBM ‘Elizabeth’ and completion is expected later this year.
Top: Cutterhead removal from TBM Above: TBM ‘Mary Ann’ finishes its drive on Bromford Tunnel August 2025 | 25