Construction of High Speed 2 has entered a new phase in west London, with tunnelling towards Euston now under way from the new Old Oak Common station in Acton.
The first of two tunnel boring machines has begun excavating a 4.5-mile route beneath the capital, marking a key milestone for the rail project. Old Oak Common is set to become HS2’s initial London terminus when services begin, before trains continue on to Euston at a later date.
The 1,624-tonne machine, named Madeleine, was launched at a ceremony today (27 January 2026) attended by ministers and senior figures from HS2 Ltd. The tunnels will run deep underground, passing beneath residential and commercial areas of west and central London.
Mark Wild, the chief executive of HS2 Ltd, said the start of tunnelling was a pivotal moment for the scheme. He said: “This is a hugely significant step forward for HS2. Starting the tunnels from Old Oak Common brings us closer to delivering a modern, high-capacity railway that will improve connectivity and support economic growth.”
Mr Wild described Old Oak Common as “one of the best-connected new stations ever built in the UK”, linking HS2 with the Elizabeth line, the Great Western Main Line and services to Heathrow.
The rail minister, Lord Hendy, also welcomed the development. He said: “It was brilliant to switch on the tunnel boring machine at Old Oak Common today. This is a vital milestone and brings HS2’s journey to Euston another step closer to reality.”
Tunnelling is expected to take around two years. The government has said the work will support jobs and regeneration around Old Oak Common, an area identified for significant housing and commercial development as transport links expand.
