HS2’s First Tunnel Bore Completed in West Midlands

HS2 has reached a major construction milestone with the successful breakthrough of its first tunnel in Birmingham. The 3.5-mile Bromford Tunnel was excavated by tunnel boring machine (TBM) Mary Ann, which launched from Water Orton in July 2023 and arrived at Washwood Heath in May 2025. The 125-metre-long TBM weighed approximately 1,600 tonnes and operated up to 40 metres below ground, navigating under the M6 motorway, the River Tame, and key utility infrastructure without reported disruption. This phase marks HS2’s first tunnel breakthrough in the West Midlands.

The breakthrough follows 652 continuous days of excavation work by a 450-strong crew under HS2's construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI. The TBM installed 2,971 concrete rings, assembled from over 20,000 pre-cast segments manufactured at Avonmouth. Excavated spoil, amounting to nearly one million tonnes, is being reused for construction at the nearby Delta Junction viaduct complex. The tunnel fitting works, including concrete finishes, base slabs, and emergency walkways, will follow. A second TBM named Elizabeth is currently progressing on the parallel bore, with completion expected later this year.

Washwood Heath, where the TBM emerged, will become a central operational hub for HS2. The site will host the project’s train depot and Network Integrated Control Centre. The completion of this section is part of a wider £10 billion regeneration initiative across the West Midlands. HS2 currently employs over 10,000 individuals in the region, including apprentices and workers previously unemployed. More than 400 local businesses are contributing to the supply chain, underlining the project's ongoing regional impact.

The following video showcases the moment of the giant tunnel breakthrough serving its mission to excavate the first bore of what will soon become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands.