Tue, 27 Jan 2026

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 Madeleine the boring machine poised for new HS2 tunnel

The high speed rail line from Birmingham will be extended from west London to Euston station.

* The tunnel will connect Old Oak Common in west London to a proposed expanded station at Euston.
* The new Euston station's design, cost, and timescale are still unknown, with ministers promising an update later this year.
* The original target date of 2033 for the HS2 project has been missed, and it is unclear when the new Euston station will be completed.
* The tunnel will reach depths of 50 metres and is expected to take about 18 months to complete.
* A second machine called Karen will be switched on in the coming months to help excavate and construct the tunnel.
* HS2's cost has ballooned to at least £80bn, with reports suggesting it could cost up to £100bn.
* The project's leader, Mark Wild, says a "reset" of the project is almost complete and will provide a new definitive timescale and costs.
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