HS2 has revealed images of the longest of three innovative ‘green tunnels’ that will be built across Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire to help blend the new high-speed rail line into the landscape and reduce disruption for residents.
The one-and-a half-mile long Greatworth tunnel will be built in Derbyshire before being shipped to site and assembled over the railway line as it passes the village. It will then be covered with earth and landscaped to fit into the surrounding countryside. Designed as an ‘m’ shaped double arch, the tunnel will have two separate halves for southbound and northbound trains.
Applying lessons from the construction of the latest French high-speed lines, an ‘off site’ modular approach was developed by HS2’s main works contractor, EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall.
“The Greatworth green tunnel is a great example of what we’re doing to blend the new railway into the landscape and protect communities living close to the line,” said HS2 Ltd’s Project Client Rohan Perin.
“By adopting an ‘off site’ approach to manufacturing, we’re also cutting embedded carbon from the design, improving efficiency, safety and making the whole construction process less disruptive for the community.”
Similar structures will also be built near Wendover in Buckinghamshire and Chipping Warden in Northamptonshire, stretching for a combined total of four miles. The tunnels will all have specially designed ‘porous portals’ at either end to reduce the noise of trains entering and exiting the tunnel and small portal buildings to house safety and electrical equipment.
All 13,290 segments for the three tunnels are being made by Derbyshire-based Stanton Precast Ltd, in a deal which has created almost 100 jobs at their Ilkeston factory. Stanton currently employs around 180 people at their factory and this deal has enabled the firm to increase their workforce by around 50%. New production sheds, casting and storage areas are also being built at the factory to accommodate the new work.
Image credit: HS2 Ltd
