By Lynda Myer
The Hartlepool is location that rail deliveries of tunnel segments for HS2 London tunnels have commenced from.
Earlier this year, a state-of-the-art factory was inaugurated in Hartlepool by Strabag, which is manufacturing the pre-cast concrete segments for HS2’s next London tunnel drives. The factory has direct access to the rail network through a rail head that had not been used in over 15 years.
Rebuilding an old oil-rig fabrication site into an automated precast concrete facility which is initially being used for HS2, Strabag has made a significant investment in Hartlepool.
In order to bringing the disused rail head that runs alongside the factory back into service, linking it to the UK rail network, Strabag worked with Network Rail. Additionally, an advantage of transporting the tunnel segments by rail rather than road will be reduce of the CO2 emissions by 76%.
Responsibility of receiving the segments at its London Logistics Hub near Willesden Junction will be up to HS2’s London tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture (SCS JV) and then the next destination of the segments will be Victoria Road Crossover Box in Acton.
Stretching from Victoria Road in Acton to Greenford, the Northolt Tunnel East, which is a 5.5km twin bore tunnel, is due to be constructed using these segments. At Greenford, the tunnel is slated to connect to the Northolt Tunnel West, and combined will complete the 13.5km tunnel taking HS2 services from Old Oak Common Station to the edge of London.
The quantity of precast tunnel segments that will be produced for both the Northolt Tunnel East and Euston Tunnel is over 83,000, while each ring has an 8.8m outside diameter, is 35cm thick and weighs seven tones.
Commissioning next two TBMs (Emily and Anne) will be done by SCS JV next year.
According to HS2 Ltd project client director Malcolm Codling: “The start of tunnel segment deliveries was a further sign of momentum in the construction of HS2, building between London and the West Midlands.”
“Strabag’s investment in Hartlepool is an example of how HS2 is benefiting the UK economy. Reinstating the rail head demonstrates a commitment to a long-term future for the factory, and supports HS2’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact through construction,” he said.
Also Strabag UK managing director Simon Wild asserted: “The company was delighted to see the first trains leaving for London. The direct access from the factory to the rail network is a huge location advantage that enables us to reduce the number of journeys by lorry and carbon emissions.”
Considering that the capacity of freight trains is up to 20 segment rings and they are going to be used to build 38m of tunnel, each train from Hartlepool to London will remove the need for 40 lorries on UK roads. Trains will run six times a week between Hartlepool and London.
Moreover, the contract to supply the segments for HS2’s Euston tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston has been granted to Strabag. Alternative funding arrangements for Euston are being considered after the government announced in October that HS2 Ltd would lose responsibility for the Euston site.
