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High Speed 2 (HS2) Tunnel Construction

HS2 is one of Europe's largest and most complex infrastructure projects. Zentrale Technik has been centrally involved in the project since the beginning - in the design, management and with its tunnel construction expertise.
  • The picture shows huge construction cranes of the HS2 tunnel construction project in the London sunset. © John Zammit at Absolute Photography Ltd/HS2
    The picture shows huge construction cranes of the HS2 tunnel construction project in the London sunset. © John Zammit at Absolute Photography Ltd/HS2
Client
High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd
Contractor
Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture
Location
London
Participation ZT
Since June 2017
Type of building
Tunnels, cross passages, ventilation and evacuation shafts with headhouse
Construction method
New Austrian tunnel construction method with segmental lining and shotcrete in combination
The picture shows how the tunnel boring © HS2 Ltd

A tunnel construction project of superlatives

Around 13 miles of twin-bore tunnels, 34 cross-passages, ventilation structures, an evacuation shaft and an 800-meter-long cut-and-cover tunnel - these are the dimensions that form the London tunnels programme building the underground sections of HS2 between West Ruislip and London Euston. The project covers a total of 22 sites with an impressive area of 2,535,000 square meters.

This image shows a cross-passage being excavated during the construction of the HS2 tunnel in London. © HS2 Ltd

From Euston Station through the dense network of London

The HS2 tunnels run directly beneath historic buildings, busy transport routes and existing railway lines - precise design and execution are essential. The project also includes bridges, road and infrastructure relocations, and the reconstruction of a golf course – all of which are affected by the tunnel work. A specially developed logistics system with conveyor belts, spoil centres and a segment manufacturing plant was established for the tunnel construction in order to make the construction processes in the densely built-up metropolis as efficient as possible.

  • A picture of Elias Bassil, BIM Manager for the HS2 project.

    HS2 is a statement for modern mobility. The fact that we at Zentrale Technik are able to play a key role here is both a recognition and a responsibility.

    Elias Bassil
    BIM Manager, Zentrale Technik
A bird's eye view of London Euston Station. © HS2 Ltd

Precision in the HS2 mega-project

Zentrale Technik is part of the Design House, which, together with Arup and Typsa, is responsible for a large part of the planning volume - a major project within the project. From early solution finding in Early Contractor Engagement to scheme design and detailed design to construction supervision, Zentrale Technik has been and continues to be significantly involved in all phases. ZT employees also took on key roles in technical management and design management in the SCS JV operational team.

A special highlight: the openings to the cross passages were constructed using innovative, fire-resistant, durable reinforced concrete composite segments – for the first time in this form, with shell thicknesses of only 32.5 to 35 cm. Two of these ventilation openings, each with a cross-sectional area of 28 m², are among the largest ever built in TBM tunnels worldwide – and were constructed parallel to the tunnel driving, without additional support structures.

The picture shows many tunnel segments at dusk. © John Zammit at Absolute Photography Ltd/HS2

Strabag UK's specially established precast segment factory also received intensive support from Zentrale Technik – from factory design to the needs-based adaptation of production technology, partly in close cooperation with our ZT colleagues from Belgrade.

The ability to develop new solutions, respond flexibly to changing conditions and make technical decisions close to the operational reality makes Zentrale Technik a decisive factor in the success of providing solutions for the HS2 project – even within the complex structures of an international design joint venture.

Services

  • Engineering services according to HOAI
    • Service phase 3: Conceptual design
    • Service phase 5: Execution design
    • Service phase 8: Construction surveillance
  • Smart Engineering